Sylhet: A preparatory meeting on Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations was held on Thursday at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet. Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam presided over the meeting, which aimed to ensure a peaceful and joyous celebration of the upcoming festival.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting was attended by Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Local Government Deputy Director Subarna Sarkar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Padmasan Singh, and former Mayor of Sylhet city Ariful Haque Chowdhury, among others. Participants included representatives from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, Sylhet City Corporation, Hindu religious and puja celebration committees from district and upazilas, as well as leaders from various political parties.
During the discussions, leaders of the puja celebration committees outlined their plans and challenges, proposing several initiatives and seeking assistance from the administration, law enforcement, political parties, and the community to ensure a successful festival. In response, the Deputy Commissioner detailed security measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras at every puja mandap, continuous checkpoints, and the deployment of volunteers.
Sylhet is recognized for its religious harmony, and the Deputy Commissioner expressed optimism that the festival would be celebrated in a festive atmosphere with collective cooperation. To prevent any untoward incidents during the festivities, he urged everyone to remain vigilant and to avoid spreading unverified information or rumors, particularly on social media.
Additionally, he announced the formation of a monitoring cell comprising administration, police, law enforcement, and civil society representatives to oversee security at all puja venues. Representatives from law enforcement and intelligence agencies assured that all puja mandaps would be monitored, with Sylhet Metropolitan Police deploying mobile patrol teams for round-the-clock supervision. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has also implemented special measures to secure mandaps located near border areas.
The Sylhet City Corporation will establish a 24-hour control room during the Durga Puja celebrations to address any urgent needs. The Durga Puja festivities in the country are scheduled to commence on September 27.