Government Ready For Holding Peaceful Durga Puja Celebrations

The government has taken comprehensive measures to ensure peaceful and festive celebrations of the five-day Durga Puja, as Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury directed law enforcement agencies to guarantee security across the country.

He said all necessary steps have been adopted to create a safe and joyful environment during the celebrations.

According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, a total of 32,990 puja mandaps will be set up nationwide from September 28 to October 2.

The interim government has increased allocations for puja mandaps to Tk 5 crore this year, compared to Tk 4 crore last year and Tk 2 crore under the previous Awami League government. Each mandap will also receive 500 kilograms of rice in addition to the financial support.

A detailed security plan has been finalized in consultation with puja celebration committees and other stakeholders. Security will be enforced in three phases — pre-puja, during puja including idol immersion, and post-puja.

To maintain law and order, around three lakh Ansar personnel and 80,000 volunteers from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will be deployed alongside members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, and the armed forces.

The Home Adviser said security deployment will begin on September 24, with special attention to border areas by the BGB, coastal belts by the Navy and Coast Guard, and riverbanks by the River Police, who will also oversee idol immersions.

He further noted that eight Ansar members and seven volunteers will be stationed at each mandap, while committees have been asked to install CCTV cameras for round-the-clock monitoring. Patrols by police, RAB, and BGB will be conducted regularly, with the armed forces acting as a striking force.

An app has also been launched to report any untoward incidents swiftly, enabling law enforcement to respond immediately.

The Home Adviser confirmed that there are no specific security threats this year and urged all to avoid rumours. “Durga Puja will be observed with due religious fervor, sanctity, and festivity,” he assured, calling for everyone’s cooperation.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said that police will maintain three-phase security, with SWAT, Crime Response Team, and the Bomb Disposal Unit on standby round the clock. Monitoring cells will also operate at Police Headquarters and other units.

He urged puja organizers to contact the National Emergency Service 999 or the nearest police station in case of emergencies, emphasizing that law enforcement will remain alert to ensure peaceful celebrations.