Durga Puja: Take steps to ensure security

The government on Monday directed deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, upazila nirbahi officers, and other field-level officials to take all measures to ensure security across the country during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.

The directive came at a virtual meeting between the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah and the officials concerned at the Prime Minister's Office, according to sources.

Sources said the meeting was held mainly to learn about the field administrations' security preparations for Durga Puja.

Some attendees highlighted the importance of this year's puja as it is just ahead of the upcoming national election.

They mentioned how groups of people with malicious intents could carry out misdeeds, which could escalate this year as the election approaches.

With this in mind, top officials of the Prime Minister's Office directed that all-out preparations for security must be taken by the administrations concerned.

Contacted, a police official, requesting anonymity, said the government is giving utmost importance to ensuring that there are no untoward situations centring puja celebrations.

"This was the issue of utmost importance in the meeting. A couple of DCs and SPs in their speeches raised the issue of taking extra caution this year as it is an election year."

A Hamid Zamadder, religious affairs secretary, emphasised coordination with other religious leaders through discussions if places of worship of other religions are located near puja mandaps.

Kamrul Hasan, disaster management and relief secretary, said his ministry has allocated half a tonne of rice to each puja mandap.

Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun reminded the meeting attendees of various incidents during Durga Puja celebrations in the past and asked everyone to ensure that those do not repeat this year.

He also asked the police to conduct routine patrols at the mandaps.

SPs and DCs of Dinajpur, Bhola, and Magura districts also spoke at the meeting.

The prime minister's office secretary, director generals of the Border Guard Bangladesh, and  Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party, among other officials concerned were present in the meeting, sources said.