Bangladesh urges Hindus to pause Durga Puja festivities during namaz and azaan times
PTC News Desk: The newly formed interim government in Bangladesh has requested that the Hindu community temporarily halt Durga Puja-related activities, specifically music, during azaan and namaz times.
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced this directive following a meeting on the law and order situation in anticipation of Durga Puja, the largest Hindu festival in the country. He stated that puja committees have been instructed to turn off musical instruments and sound systems during prayer times and that they have agreed to comply with this request. The pause should start five minutes before azaan and last through the prayer.
This year, a total of 32,666 puja mandaps will be set up across Bangladesh, with 157 in Dhaka South City and 88 in Dhaka North City Corporations, according to Chowdhury. This marks a slight decrease from last year’s 33,431 mandaps, though the number is expected to exceed previous totals this year.
Chowdhury also assured that security measures would be in place during the festival, from the idol-making phase to the celebration. The government plans to ensure continuous security at the puja mandaps to facilitate smooth celebrations and prevent any disruptions by miscreants.
In a national address, Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, emphasised the importance of communal harmony. “We are a nation of communal harmony. No one shall act in a way that disrupts religious peace,” Yunus said. He warned against individuals taking the law into their own hands and assured that those who do will be held accountable.