Durga Puja: Coordinating body gives directives on security arrangements

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad yesterday issued 12 directives upon its city and district units to ensure necessary security arrangements centring the upcoming Durga Puja.

The Parishad gave the directives following an extended meeting at Dhakeshwari National Temple, which was attended by Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary as chief guest, said a press release.

Durga Puja, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Hindus, will be celebrated from October 15 to 19. More than 30,000 puja mandaps will be set up across the country, the press release added.

At the meeting, the police chief assured the community of taking all necessary steps to ensure security during the festival.

The Parishad asked city and district committees to instal CCTV cameras at the mandaps and preserve footage, ensure security of the mandaps from the time of preparing the idols to the completion of the puja, assign volunteers with identity cards for round the clock watch, set up separate exits and entries for male and female visitors, complete emersion of the idols within 10:00pm on Bijoy Dashami, stop exploding crackers and keep close contact with the administration and law enforcers.

The organisation demanded a three-day holiday and decoration of important government buildings on this occasion.

The Parishad's President Milan Kanti Dutt chaired the meeting, where Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Director General Benazir Ahmed, among others, was present.