Chattogram:The five-day Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Bengali Hindu community, commenced today across Chattogram with great fervor and festivity. The celebrations started with Bodhan, the ritual of giving life to an idol, and will conclude with the immersion of the Goddess Durga on Bijoya Dashami. Devotees have gathered at numerous puja mandaps in both the city and district to partake in the festivities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year, 2,498 puja mandaps have been established in 15 upazilas of the district, including 296 in the city. Prominent venues such as JM Sen Hall and Ramkrishna Mission are attracting a large number of Hindus from various backgrounds for the celebrations.
To ensure a peaceful celebration, police and district administration, along with Hindu community leaders, are in constant communication. A team of six to eight law enforcement officers is assigned to monitor each puja mandap. All police leaves have been canceled, and control rooms have been set up at both the district and Chattogram Metropolitan Police headquarters. Additionally, striking forces and platoons of the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) have been deployed for security purposes.
Security measures include the installation of check posts and CCTV cameras at strategic points, with tight monitoring at city entry points and instructions to search for suspicious individuals. SRB-7 has also taken comprehensive steps to ensure the success and safety of the celebrations.