Narinjara news
70 Rakhine
Buddha Statues stolen in two years
Dhaka, 12 May 03: Theft of Buddha statues from the temples of the Rakhine Community in Bangladesh is unabated in the Rakhine dominated areas like Amtali,
Galachipa in Barguna
district, Kalapara and Kuakata
people feeling insecured in the performance of their
religious rites, according to the independent on 10th May 03.
A total of 70 Buddha statues were stolen from different temples in the Rakhine village in the coastal region during the last two
years. Police administration has failed to unearth the mystery of the theft and
arrest any number of the gang engaged in the theft of the statues for
profiteering.
The failure of the police administration in this regard has left the Rakhine people to insecurity regarding their religious
performance.
In the year of 2002 alone, a total of 33 Rakhine
ancient Buddha statues were stolen from different temples.
A group of thieves engaged by the statues trafficking gang stole a bronze
Buddha statue weighing two and a half kilograms from the Chatanpara
Rakhine temple in May of 2002. Another group of
thieves stole a statue weighing 325 kilograms from temple at Thakurpara in Taltali Township of
Barguna district on
Besides these, almost all of the 30 statues in three temples at Agathakur village were stolen during the period. Since then
the Rakhine of Agathakurpara
area in a bit to avoid theft of their statues made of valuable wood,
touchstone, copper, bronze and marvel stone kept those in the houses of their
clerics.
The other statues that were stolen at different times in 2002 included, among
others, the touchstone statue of Misrapur temple and
one marvel stone statue of Betkata temple in Kuakata. Besides the statues, two copper bells of Kerampara temple, two bells one weighing 20 kilograms and
another 15kgs of central Buddha Bihar in Kalapara township were stolen during the period.
One Rakhine leader informed that eight Buddha statues
were stolen from Luxmi village area under Chapatali union and two from Haripara
village under Belaitali union on
Secretary of Rakhin Buddhist Welfare Association, Patuakhali Unit, said that a suspect in the theft of eight
statues was handed over to the police. But police could not trace the
trafficking gang, the paper concluded. #