The Asiapost News

Madaripur, Bangladesh – In a shocking act of cultural vandalism, a 200-year-old banyan tree, revered by locals as a symbol of heritage and spirituality, was hacked down by Islamic clerics in Bangladesh’s Madaripur district on May 5, 2025. The tree, located in Alom Mirer Kandi along the Kumar River, was targeted by zealots who branded the rituals performed under its sprawling branches as “un-Islamic.” This brazen assault on Bangladesh’s cultural legacy has ignited fury among locals and drawn sharp criticism from observers worldwide, who see it as part of a dangerous surge in Islamist extremism under the country’s interim government.

The majestic banyan, a centuries-old fixture in the community, was more than just a tree—it was a living monument. Locals believed it held mystical powers, drawing crowds who lit candles and made vows at its base. Some reports suggest Hindus in the area worshipped the tree, making it a potential target for radicals intent on erasing religious diversity. On Monday morning, a group of Islamist clerics, led by imams from nearby mosques, descended on the site with axes and saws. By day’s end, they had reduced 75% of the tree—its trunk and sprawling branches—to splinters, leaving a gaping wound in the community’s heart.

“This is cultural terrorism,” fumed one local resident, who spoke to The Asiapost News on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution. “That tree was our history, our identity. These fanatics are destroying everything we hold dear, and no one dares stop them.” Social media platforms like Facebook and X have erupted with outrage, with users slamming the clerics’ actions as an attack on Bangladesh’s pluralistic traditions. “Islamists are running wild under Yunus’ watch,” one post read, referring to the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. “First they target Hindus, now they’re chopping down our heritage. Where does it end?”

The incident comes amid a chilling rise in Islamist influence in Bangladesh since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Groups like Hefazat-e-Islam have flexed their muscle, opposing everything from women’s sports to music festivals, labeling them as contrary to their rigid interpretation of Islam. The destruction of the banyan tree fits a disturbing pattern: a calculated effort to erase cultural and religious symbols that don’t align with their extremist agenda. The interim government, supposedly run by NGOs and environmentalists and touted as champions of environmental protection, has remained awkwardly silent. This silence is only encouraging the Islamists, critics argue, emboldening radicals to act with impunity.

The media in Bangladesh, muzzled by fear and censorship, has barely covered the story. Only a single report from The Business Standard dared to document the incident, leaving the world largely in the dark. This silence is no accident—journalists face harassment, and dissenters risk violence in a nation increasingly under the thumb of hardline clerics. “The press is scared stiff,” said a Dhaka-based analyst, who also requested anonymity. “You won’t find more on this because speaking out could get you killed.”

The banyan’s destruction isn’t just a local tragedy; it’s a warning to the world. Bangladesh, once a beacon of moderate Islam, is sliding toward a dark future where heritage, diversity, and free expression are under siege. On X, users have called for international intervention, with some urging the U.S. to pressure Yunus’ government to rein in the extremists. “This is what happens when you let radicals run the show,” one post declared. “The world needs to step up before Bangladesh becomes another Taliban state.”

For now, the stump of the banyan tree stands as a grim reminder of what’s at stake. Locals, too afraid to protest openly, mourn in silence, while the clerics who wielded the axes walk free. The question looms: will the world act, or will Bangladesh’s cultural treasures continue to fall to the blades of intolerance?

Our team reached out to Bangladesh’s interim government for comment but received no response.