26, September 2026 – Bogura : Money from a donation box and various temple items were allegedly stolen from a Kali temple in Matihas village under Nandigram upazila of Bogura. An idol from the temple was later found abandoned in a nearby pond. According to the temple authorities, the incident took place between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
The temple priest, Shri Khagendranath Pramanik, told local journalists that he left the temple after completing the evening puja rituals on Thursday. When he returned on Friday morning, he found the donation box broken and discovered that the idol of Sannyasi Thakur was missing.
The temple authorities said several ritual and brass items, including a bell, trident, gong and plates, were also missing.
The missing idol was later recovered from a nearby pond, the priest said.
Tarikul Islam, officer-in-charge of Nandigram Police Station, told The Daily Star that police conducted a preliminary inquiry after receiving information about the incident. He said local residents had reportedly seen the idol lying in a field near the temple on Thursday morning. However, it remained unclear whether the idol had been placed there for ritual immersion.
“The temple remains open and has no enclosure. We have learned that some ritual items and brass utensils are missing. Police are investigating the incident to identify those involved,” he said.
The temple authorities have not yet filed a written complaint with the police. The OC said necessary legal action would be taken once a formal complaint is received.
