Puja Udjapon Front thanks government over incident-free Durga festival, home minister calls it an example of harmony

The Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Front has said this year's Durga festival was celebrated amid unprecedented security arrangements, five consecutive days of government holiday, increased grants for Puja mandaps and an atmosphere of communal harmony. The organisation expressed gratitude to the government, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and members of the law-enforcement agencies and administration at all levels.

The gratitude was expressed at a press conference held on Sunday (25 October) at the Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club. Babu Milton Baidya, general secretary of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Front, read out the written statement.

In the written statement, he said that for the first time in history, Sharadiya Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, was completed across the country without any violence or untoward incident. Celebrating the festival with great enthusiasm in a safe environment had set a unique example in Bangladesh's political and social history, he noted.

Crediting the prime minister's leadership, far-sighted decisions and the tireless role of the law-enforcement agencies behind this success, the organisation said that because of the government's sincerity and the administration's continuous efforts, followers of the Sanatan faith were able to celebrate the festival in a safe environment.

Babu Milton Baidya said many claim to be the best friends of Sanatan followers, but that has not been reflected in reality. The present government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman have proved their non-communal spirit through work, he commented. The implementation of the prime minister's declared principle — 'religion is personal, the state is for all; everyone has the right to security' — has created trust among Sanatan followers, the statement said.

At a press briefing at the Secretariat the same day, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Sharadiya Durga Puja was celebrated this year with enthusiasm and watertight security, setting a shining example of religious harmony. He said the Puja was completed peacefully without any untoward incident because of the law-enforcement agencies' advance preparation, technology-based surveillance and preventive measures.

The home minister said that this time, instead of acting after an incident occurred, preventive steps were taken in advance. Round-the-clock surveillance was maintained from the grassroots to the divisional and central levels through digital apps and modern technology. Several possible sabotage plans were detected and foiled in advance because of this, he said.

The minister said Durga Puja was held at 33,851 mandaps across the country this year. Alongside increased government assistance for the Puja, the rice allocation for each mandap was set at 600 kg. Including the weekly holiday, Sanatan followers received five consecutive days of holiday.

The Puja Udjapon Front's statement also raised the holiday and grant issues. It said the highest state grant since Bangladesh's independence was given for Durga Puja this time; the government, on its own initiative, allocated nearly double the financial assistance the Hindu community had expected. With holidays extended beyond any previous time, ordinary people and officials were able to share the festive joy with their families for longer.

Praising the security arrangements, the organisation said a three-tier security system was built across the country with the coordination of police, RAB, Ansar and other forces. Because of CCTV cameras and intelligence surveillance, devotees could celebrate the Puja without hindrance. The government's 'zero tolerance' policy against propaganda and religious incitement before and after the festival also restored trust among citizens, they noted.

The statement also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman himself visited various Puja mandaps across the country and exchanged greetings with Sanatan followers. The president also visited various mandaps. The organisation claimed this year's festival proved that communal harmony and national unity can be strengthened through political goodwill and the professionalism of the law-enforcement agencies.

The Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Front expressed deep thanks, respect and gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government and members of the law-enforcement agencies for gifting a discrimination-free, safe and harmonious environment. Advocate Suman Kumar Roy, general secretary of the Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP), BNP executive committee member Sri Ramesh Dutta and other leaders were present at the press conference. The home minister, too, in his briefing thanked police, BGB, Ansar, intelligence agencies, all concerned and journalists for working tirelessly to complete the Puja peacefully.