Dhaka, Oct. 5 -- Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has alleged that a group of "fascist intellectuals" were behind attempts to stoke religious discord during this year's Durga Puja after beards were placed on the faces of Asur (demons in Hinduism) idols at hundreds of puja sites across the country.

Speaking to reporters after a core committee meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday, Jahangir said the efforts were part of a wider plot to provoke communal tension and violence.

"Fascists and their associates have tried to incite religious division and communal violence by placing beards on the faces of Asur at some puja pavilions. This incident was instigated by some fascist intellectuals," he said.

He added that bearded Asur figures had ...