Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Chattogram on Tuesday to share Durga Puja festivities
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is coming to Chattogram tomorrow, Tuesday, to share the joy of the Sharodiya Durga festival. His visit has created extra enthusiasm among followers of the Hindu faith.
The district administration has made special preparations to present Chattogram's long-standing tradition of communal harmony before the Prime Minister.
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah shared the details on Monday (19 October) while inspecting the puja mandap at the historic JM Sen Hall and supervising preparations. Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam was with him at the time.
The Deputy Commissioner said communal harmony is a long-standing tradition. 'It is our pride, our strength. We want to present this picture of harmony before the Prime Minister,' he said.
The Deputy Commissioner said the Prime Minister will arrive at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram at 6:30pm. From there he will go directly to JM Sen Hall.
There the Prime Minister will visit the temple and exchange greetings with members of the Hindu community. Alongside enjoying religious and cultural programmes, he will distribute cheques of financial assistance and deliver a speech.
For the Prime Minister's visit, the district administration, police, BGB and other related agencies are working in coordination. Alongside beautification of the JM Sen Hall mandap, preparations include dance, Gita recitation and various other arrangements.
The Deputy Commissioner said Chattogram's traditional puja has been held for ages. Through it, they want to present the tradition of communal harmony to people at home and abroad.
Extensive security measures have been taken across the district to ensure a smooth Durga Puja, the Deputy Commissioner also said. According to his figures, about 12,500 Ansar members and more than 5,000 police personnel are on duty, alongside members of RAB and other law enforcement agencies.
Every puja mandap has been brought under CCTV coverage. Volunteers have been instructed to perform duties according to a fixed roster. Upazila nirbahi officers, executive magistrates and senior district administration officials are regularly inspecting the mandaps.
The Deputy Commissioner said the administration stands beside Hindu devotees round the clock so they can perform religious rituals without fear. Necessary measures, including lighting, CCTV cameras and deployment of law enforcement personnel, have also been taken at the idol immersion sites.
Noting that government assistance for Durga Puja has been increased this year, the Deputy Commissioner said the government has raised the amount of rice and financial assistance compared with last year. The district administration is also helping financially insolvent mandaps.
Recounting his experience of inspecting a mandap in a remote fishing village in Banshkhali, he said: 'I went to the fishing village in Banshkhali yesterday. The warmth they showed me truly overwhelmed me.'
This year both the scale of puja arrangements and people's participation have increased, the Deputy Commissioner said. According to his figures, about 1,500 new puja mandaps have been set up across the country, including about 400 new community mandaps in Chattogram district alone.
The Deputy Commissioner said special enthusiasm has been created among the Hindu community over the Prime Minister's arrival. The administration and puja celebration committees are working together to make the festival more joyful and to highlight Chattogram's tradition of communal harmony.
