Around 33,000 puja mandaps are being set up across Bangladesh for the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja, the country’s largest Hindu festival.
To ensure security at these mandaps and maintain law and order nationwide, 300,000 Ansar members will be deployed alongside the Army, Police, and RAB, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced on Monday (September 8).
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the law-and-order committee on Durga Puja security preparations, the adviser said this year the Puja Celebration Committee has not expressed any specific concerns about possible subversive threats, unlike last year when some apprehensions were raised.
He added that no fairs or temporary markets will be allowed around puja mandaps during the festivities.
A new mobile application has also been introduced to assist with information verification and security coordination during Durga Puja, the adviser said.
