Sylhet: A preparatory meeting on Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations was held today at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet. Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam presided over the meeting, which 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 Corporation Ariful Haque Chowdhury, among others.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, representatives of 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 participated in the meeting. During the discussions, leaders of the puja celebration committees presented their plans and challenges, proposing several initiatives and seeking cooperation from the administration, law enforcement, political parties, and all community members to ensure a peaceful and joyous celebration of Durga Puja.
The Deputy Commissioner outlined security measures including the installation of CCTV cameras at every puja mandap, round-the-clock checkpoints, and deployment of responsible volunteers. He emphasized Sylhet’s reputation for religious harmony and expressed hope that the festival would be celebrated in a festive atmosphere with everyone’s cooperation. To avoid any untoward incidents during the festivities, the DC urged everyone to remain vigilant and to refrain from spreading any unverified information or rumors, especially via social media.
Furthermore, he announced the formation of a monitoring cell involving administration, police, law enforcement, and civil society representatives to ensure security at all puja venues. Representatives from law enforcement and intelligence agencies assured that all puja mandaps would be under surveillance and Sylhet Metropolitan Police would deploy mobile patrol teams for 24/7 monitoring. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has also taken special measures to secure mandaps located in border areas.
The Sylhet City Corporation will set up a 24-hour control room during the Durga Puja celebrations to assist with any urgent needs.