Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has accused Hindu nationalist forces of pursuing what it calls "Delhi's blueprint" through a plan to build the world's tallest permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati at Dhaka University's Jagannath Hall.

The Islamist organisation on Wednesday demanded the cancellation of the project, describing it as part of a wider attempt to establish Hindutva influence in Bangladesh.

In a statement issued on November 11, Hefazat expressed "deep concern" over the initiative and accused what it called "hegemonic forces" of exploiting religious institutions to advance their political agenda.

"We believe that the initiative to construct the world's tallest permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University is part of the hegemonic agenda of Delhi's blueprint," the statement said.

The organisation claimed that forces defeated in the July 2024 uprising were attempting to regain influence through religious and cultural initiatives.

It alleged that these forces were using a particular religious community as a "Trojan horse" to facilitate the spread of Hindutva influence in Bangladesh.

The statement offered no evidence linking the statue project to the Indian government or any political organisation in India.

Hefazat also questioned whether a residential hall accommodating students from different religious backgrounds should host such a monument.

"Jagannath Hall is not a residential hall exclusively designated for students of any particular religious community," it said.

"Students belonging to other religious communities, including Buddhists and Christians, as well as students from small ethnic minority groups, are also accommodated in this hall."

The organisation argued that students from one religious community could not claim exclusive ownership of the hall.

It also accused secular groups of applying double standards to religious activities on university campuses.

"These ultra-secular elements want Dhaka University to become so 'secular' that ordinary students, whether Hindu or Muslim, would not be allowed to organise religious events of any kind," the statement said.

"Yet they are now enthusiastically supporting the initiative to install the world's tallest permanent statue of Goddess Saraswati at Jagannath Hall."

Hefazat said it supported religious freedom and the right of students from all communities to observe their religious festivals.

"At Jagannath Hall, Hindu students have been observing their major religious festivals without obstruction. We will protect everyone's right to practise their religion," it said.

But the organisation drew a distinction between religious observances and the construction of a permanent monument.

It described the proposed statue and its planned year-long construction as an "alarming development".

"We urge the university authorities to cancel the construction project and stop this hegemonic initiative," the statement said.

Hefazat also called on the government, political parties and members of the armed forces to unite against what it described as conspiracies by Hindutva forces and their associates.

The statement was issued by Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi, joint secretary-general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.

The statement did not provide details of the project's funding, approval process or proposed dimensions.

There was no response from Dhaka University authorities or the organisers of the proposed statue included in the statement.

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