Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 13 — Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, the man who came into the national spotlight after proposing the construction of an 81-foot-tall Ram statue in northern Bangladesh’s Gaibandha district, has been arrested in connection with a money laundering case.
Officials said he was taken into custody late Sunday night by the Financial Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) following a money laundering case filed at Uttara West Police Station in the capital.
Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Khalid Mansur of Uttara West Police Station confirmed that a money laundering case had been registered on Sunday and that Das had been named as an accused. He said the arrest was carried out by the CID’s Financial Crime Unit.
According to local sources, the arrest took place around 12:30 a.m. at the Sri Sri Kali Temple premises in Palashbari, Gaibandha. Several individuals identifying themselves as members of the district Detective Branch (DB) police reportedly entered the temple and asked Das to come outside. He was then handcuffed and taken away in a vehicle.
Palashbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sarowar Alam Khan confirmed the arrest, adding that the temple area remained calm and that additional police personnel had been deployed to maintain public order.
Ram Statue Project Previously Suspended
Das attracted widespread attention earlier this year after announcing plans to construct what was described as Bangladesh’s largest Ram statue, measuring 81 feet in height, at the Sri Radha Gobinda and Kali Temple in Palashbari.
In June, however, the temple committee announced that the project had been suspended, citing concerns over maintaining law and order and preserving communal harmony.
In its statement, the committee said the proposal had prompted mixed reactions, including questions and protests from different quarters. It said the project was being halted out of respect for religious harmony and the sentiments of the local Muslim community, while emphasizing that the decision had not been made under pressure from the government, political parties, or any other group.
Broader Context
The arrest comes amid continued scrutiny of the situation facing Bangladesh’s Hindu and other religious minority communities. Domestic civil society organizations and international human rights groups have documented incidents of violence, intimidation, vandalism of temples, and land disputes affecting minority communities in recent years. The Bangladeshi government has repeatedly stated that it is committed to protecting all religious communities, investigating attacks, and prosecuting those responsible.
Authorities have not indicated that the money laundering case against Haridas Chandra Tarani Das is related to his religious identity, the proposed Ram statue project, or his activities at the temple. The investigation is ongoing, and further details about the allegations have not yet been made public.
