Devotees boycott puja protesting grabbing of temple pond

Hundreds of people belonging to Hindu community of Roypasha and its adjacent villages in Nandail upazila are staying away from Durga Puja celebration this year in protest against an alleged forceful occupation of temple pond by a section of influential people, said sources.
Hindu families of Roypasha and its nearby villages--Jahangirpur, Bhattapur, Deuldanga, Barilla, Kalibazar and Batuadi – used to celebrate the Durga Puja at the 122-year- old legendary Roypasha Kali Mondir, sources said. But this year, the devotees have refrained themselves from arranging the festival in protest against the grabbing of pond, they said.
The temple was established in 1676 on 1.52 acres of land.  The 32-decimal pond was grabbed allegedly by some influential people in June this year, said temple sources.
A complaint was lodged with local administration regarding the matter on July 30 this year; but no step has yet been taken for recovery of the pond from the grabbers.
Prantosh Biswas Paritosh, the Sebayet (priest) of the temple, alleged that one Abdur Rashid, his cousin Waris Uddin and associate Abdul Mannas of Roypasha allegedly released fish fries into the pond in June this year.
When the temple committee and local people protested the illegal act, they were told about taking the pond on lease from local administration for fish farming, Sebayet said. Temple sources said they used to lease out the pond locally and would receive Tk 12,000 to Tk 15000 annually until the beginning of the Durga Puja festivity and the practice continued for years.

 

Devotees boycott puja protesting grabbing of temple pond

Hundreds of people belonging to Hindu community of Roypasha and its adjacent villages in Nandail upazila are staying away from Durga Puja celebration this year in protest against an alleged forceful occupation of temple pond by a section of influential people, said sources. Hindu families of Roypasha and its nearby villages--Jahangirpur, Bhattapur, Deuldanga, Barilla, Kalibazar and Batuadi used to celebrate the Durga Puja at the 122-year- old legendary Roypasha Kali Mondir, sources said. But this year, the devotees have refrained themselves from arranging the festival in protest against the grabbing of pond, they said. The temple was established in 1676 on 1.52 acres of land. The 32-decimal pond was grabbed allegedly by some influential people in June this year, said temple sources. A complaint was lodged with local administration regarding the matter on July 30 this year; but no step has yet been taken for recovery of the pond from the grabbers. Prantosh Biswas Paritosh, the Sebayet (priest) of the temple, alleged that one Abdur Rashid, his cousin Waris Uddin and associate Abdul Mannas of Roypasha allegedly released fish fries into the pond in June this year. When the temple committee and local people protested the illegal act, they were told about taking the pond on lease from local administration for fish farming, Sebayet said. Temple sources said they used to lease out the pond locally and would receive Tk 12,000 to Tk 15000 annually until the beginning of the Durga Puja festivity and the practice continued for years.