Four-day Durga Puja holiday demanded

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad yesterday demanded that the government declare a four-day holiday on the occasion of Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.
At a press conference, the Parishad leaders also called on the government to take necessary steps to celebrate religious festivals of all communities with equal importance.
Parishad General Secretary Sattendra Chandra Bhakta read out a written statement at the press conference at the at the Dhakeshwari Temple in the city.
Dr Neem Chandra Bhowmick, president of the organisation, alleged that a vested quarter has vandalised idols of Goddess Durga in Kishoreganj, Panchagarh, Satkhira and other places across the country.
He urged both the ruling party and opposition to resist such evil attempts.
In reply to a question, he said the home minister has assured them that tight security measures will be taken at different temples across the country during the festival.
Maj Gen (Retd) CR Dutta demanded effective steps to establish equal rights of all communities to build a secular Bangladesh.
This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at around 24,000 temples across the country.
Mahalaya, an auspicious occasion to mark the homecoming of the goddess, will be held today.