Dhaka: Thousands of protesters in the capital city of Bangladesh on Friday clashed with police when security forces use tear gas and sticks against the demonstrators on the image they consider to blaspheminate social media.
The image triggers vandalism incidents in Hindu temples in other parts of the Muslim majority state.
The increase in communal tension came when the minority Hindus celebrated the last day of their biggest religious festival – Durga Puja.
Police said the road protest began after the main Friday prayer at the Baitul Mukarram mosque in the center of Dhaka.
Sajjad Hossain, a deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said that some people were injured after the police were charged with sticks and tear gas to disperse the crowd, who tried to break through the police barricade.
“They began to throw stones at us, they attacked us,” Hossic said.
At least three protesters were arrested because they were questioned, he said.
The protesters shouted anti-Indian slogans and criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused him close to New Delhi.
Bangladesh authorities have ordered an investigation into blasphemous images, while Hasina has warned every effort to disrupt communal harmony.
But the Hindu organization said the attack continued in other parts of the country where dozens of Hindus were injured and their temple statues were damaged or found.
Since Wednesday, at least 100 people have been arrested throughout the country in connection with attacks on Hindu temples, the authorities said.
About 9% of Bangladesh more than 160 million people are Hinduism.
Protests in Bangladesh in the middle of communal tension
