Chattogram's JM Sen Hall puja venue ready to welcome the PM, maximum security at two venues

A festive atmosphere prevails among the Hindu community in Chattogram ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Full preparations have been made at the Durga Puja venue at JM Sen Hall in Rahmatganj in the city to welcome him.

The organisers are busy with decorating the venue, cleaning, lighting and arrangements to receive guests. The Prime Minister will exchange greetings with members of the Hindu community there and enquire about the overall Puja arrangements.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday (October 20). From the airport, he will go to the puja venue at JM Sen Hall in Rahmatganj.

Banners and welcome gates have been put up around the venue for his arrival. Necessary preparations are being made to welcome guests and to keep the movement of visitors smooth.

On the ground, an additional pandal has been built at the JM Sen Hall venue, while cleaning and decoration work is under way. Different parts of the venue are already being adorned with colourful lights. The organisers' workload has grown around the Prime Minister's arrival, and the entrance and surrounding areas are being kept ready to welcome him.

An air of joy and enthusiasm has also been created among the Hindu community over the Prime Minister's visit. The organisers hope that through this visit, the message of religious harmony, mutual respect and coexistence will grow stronger.

Professor Arpan Kanti Banerjee, acting president of the Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Udjapan Parishad, said the news that the Prime Minister is coming to the puja venue has created an atmosphere of joy among the Hindu community. They have made full preparations to welcome him, and he hopes the Prime Minister will give a new message of harmony that will play an important role in building a new Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the administration is in a strict position on security. The Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has said maximum security has been arranged at two venues, including JM Sen Hall.

Members of law enforcement agencies are on duty to ensure the security of the puja venues and to keep the overall situation normal. According to relevant sources, more than 20,000 members of the police, RAB, special security forces, Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are on duty.

The Prime Minister's visit is the final leg of his day-long programme. Earlier, he visited a puja venue and exchanged views in Rangpur, and he is scheduled to address a public rally in Rajshahi. His same-day tour of three divisional cities kept a festive mood in the areas concerned throughout the day.

After the Prime Minister reaches JM Sen Hall in the evening, his Chattogram visit is expected to conclude with greetings exchanges and enquiries about the Puja. From organisers to ordinary visitors, everyone is now waiting for that moment.