The Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad says it has received “assurances” from the administration that various steps have been taken to ensure that Durga Puja, the main religious festival of Bengali Hindus, is held “unhindered”. The group says it has no “worries in that sense”.
However, regarding recent incidents in which idols have been vandalised in different parts of the country before the official start of the festival, the festival organisers said that criminals can “carry out attacks”, but the true “matter of concern” is whether or not they are caught and brought to justice for their actions, reports bdnews24.com.
A range of initiatives taken by the government for Durga Puja were highlighted at a joint press conference by the Upjapan Parishad and the Mahanagar Sarvajanin Puja Committee at the Dhakeshwari National Temple on Friday.
The organisers expressed their hope that Durga Puja would be celebrated without disruptions and demanded uninterrupted power supply across the country during the days of the puja. They also called for the metro rail in Dhaka to keep running until at least 11pm.
The Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote announced in a press conference on Tuesday that more than 700 pavilions in various districts of the country have been identified as “at risk” during Durga Puja.
Newly formed civil society platform “Sampriti Jatra” has identified 29 districts of the country as “risky” ahead of Durga Puja.
At a press conference on Friday, information was also provided regarding the vandalism of idols and attacks on temples in 13 districts before the start of the puja.
The districts are - Kushtia, Chattogram, Kurigram, Satkhira, Jhenaidah, Netrokona, Gaibandha, Panchagarh, Jamalpur, Natore, Gazipur, Manikganj and Chapainawabganj.
For a decade and a half, Hindus have been attacked through the spreading of false “rumours” on temples and on social media, said Basudeb Dhar, president of the Updjapan Parishad.
He said, “The attacks on our religious minorities, especially the Hindu community, through spreading things on social media with false messages of religious hatred, started around 2009-10.”
Stating that such incidents, including the latest incidents in Gangachada, will be discussed at a “high-level meeting” with the home affairs adviser, Basudeb said, “They have told us that they will take a tough stance. They have assured us. In several areas, after the attacks on idols and temples, many criminals have been caught. The Army, in particular, has rushed in and the administration is standing by us.”
“Criminals can carry out attacks. But whether justice is done over these incidents, whether the criminals are being caught – that is what we should focus on. For the past 53 years, we have noted a culture of impunity at different times. We do not want this culture to continue.”
Since the changeover of power, these issues have been raised in meetings with the home affairs adviser, the religious affairs adviser, the IGP, the metropolitan police commissioners and various organisations, said Basudeb.
“Let that culture (of injustice) die through this change. They have assured us and we have seen various reflections of their assurances.”
Asked if there are any concerns about the idol immersion procession, he said: “We have visited various districts and places in Dhaka where immersion is performed. The main ritual site is our Buriganga. There were very beautiful arrangements there last time. This time the government has also arranged it and various organisations are cooperating as well.
“We want it to be held beautifully - that is what we want. The government also wants it and absolutely comprehensive arrangements have been taken. So, there is no concern in the sense of what you are saying – none of those worries. We are organising the puja. We know that everyone is on our side.”
Claiming that many minority leaders have been “harassed” through a “deluge” of cases over the past year, the Udjapan Parishad chief said: "We have informed the government and the Army about this. Some incidents in different districts have been resolved with the intervention of the Army. We want the government and the administration to see that the problem is resolved quickly before the puja."
Leaders of the community and the organisation, other Hindu organisations, and members of the community have become “victims” of such mass cases, he said. He urged the government to ensure that they can celebrate the upcoming puja “with peace of mind”.
In response to another question Udjapan Parishad Advisor Subrata Chowdhury said that law enforcing agencies should maintain a “comprehensive security cordon” but not do “anything excessive.”
“They will definitely take care of us, but they should not create fear among the general public who travel to different pavilions with their families, by doing anything excessive. We need to keep a close eye on that.”
He said, “The new culture we are introducing in Bangladesh is that wherever such incidents occur, everyone is brought to justice and handed over to the law.”
