Ramna Kali Mandir - Movement To Rebuild and Reclaim

Movement To Rebuild and Reclaim

Since the liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971, the Hindu community has waged a continual battle to reclaim the land of the temple, worship, and rebuild. Between 1972 and 2000, Hindus were only permitted to worship once on the site, on the occasion of Kali Puja in 1982.

On the occasion of Durga Puja 2000, the Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina finally conceded the demand of Bangladeshi Hindus that had been made perennially, to allow worship again on the site of the original temple. Since then, every year, a delegation of Bangladeshi Hindus has had to formally request permission from the government, and if this is granted, a temporary pandal (stage) is constructed at the site of the original temple, enabling Hindus to worship, and this structure is called "Ramna Kalibari". However, as soon as the festival ends, the pandal has to be dismantled as per the regulations of the city authorities.

In 2004, a semi-permanent makeshift place of worship was built, and an image of the Goddess Kali was installed. It has been repeatedly alleged that visitors to the reinstated image of the Goddess Kali at the site of the original temple are harassed by the police. It is alleged that this is done with the full knowledge of local authorities to prevent the site becoming seen as a formal place of worship. Up until this point, there was nothing on the site to indicate either the history of the temple or recognition of the massacre that had taken place there in 1971.

In June 2006, the BNP government of Khaleda Zia finally announced that it would grant permission to rebuild the Ramna Kali Temple, 35 years after it was demolished, and 34 years after its remains were cleared and replaced with grass. However, the news was not universally welcomed by Bangladeshi Hindus; the Government is insisting on a relocation away from the original site on a less prominent site within the Suhrwardy Udyan; the proposed structure will also be considerably more modest than the original grand building that was truly an icon of the city. With the advent of elections and political uncertainty, it remains to be seen how the long cherished dream to rebuild the Ramna Kali Temple evolves.