Rajshahi: People of the Hindu community celebrated Maha Ashtami, part of the five-day Durga Puja festival, with enthusiasm and fanfare on Tuesday. The Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Hindu community, included kumari puja, arati, scripture recitations, prashad distribution, and offerings of devotional songs and bhajans. Throughout the day, a large number of devotees visited various puja mandaps to admire the decorated Goddess Durga.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shyamal Kumar Ghosh, the Rajshahi city unit general secretary of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, expressed that the Durga Puja is being celebrated in a festive atmosphere. The temples and mandaps are adorned with decorations and lights, giving the city a vibrant look.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Muhammad Abu Sufian oversaw the security measures at the puja mandaps in Rajshahi. Speaking to journalists, he stated that strict security protocols have been implemented to ensure the peaceful and successful proceedings of Durga Puja in the city. Police stations have been instructed to maintain continuous communication with local puja committees, and law enforcement personnel have been stationed at key locations to monitor the situation.
Puja organizers have been advised to install CCTV cameras at major mandaps and arrange separate entry and exit routes for male and female devotees to manage the crowd efficiently. Commissioner Abu Sufian assured that there will be no issues during the immersion of puja idols, as separate arrangements have been made at the I-bandh, Monnujan, and police line points.
In the Rajshahi division alone, 3,449 puja mandaps have been established across its eight districts, excluding 103 mandaps in Rajshahi city, where celebrations continue under strict security measures. High-ranking administrative, police officials, and front-line BNP leaders visited several mandaps, exchanging pleasantries with the devotees.
The festival will conclude with the immersion of Goddess Durga idols in various water bodies on Bijoya Dashami, Thursday. Comprehensive security arrangements have been made throughout the city to prevent any untoward incidents during the festival.
Dr. Muhammad Shahjahan, Deputy Inspector General of Police, announced that a four-tier security system has been implemented across the division. He warned of zero tolerance for activities disrupting communal harmony, with strict legal actions promised against anyone attempting to instigate unrest.