Tarique Rahman’s prudence makes Durga Puja festive

Overcoming all fears and anxieties, Sharadiya Durgotsav, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, was celebrated peacefully. The grand religious festival of the Hindu community concluded with joy, enthusiasm, and the melancholic tunes of departure. Goddess Durga returned to the mortal realm on Wednesday evening through the immersion of idols. According to Hindu beliefs, the true significance of Bijoya Dashami is the immersion of asuric (demonic) tendencies such as desires, anger, malice, and greed within the human mind. The main objective of this event is to renounce these tendencies, bind ourselves together in bonds of brotherhood, and establish peace in the world.

The Sharadiya Durgotsav commenced with Chandi Path, Bodhan, and Adhibas on Sashthi tithi, October 16, welcoming the "Anandamoyee" (the joyful goddess). For the next five days, devotees paid their respects to Goddess Durga through worship at puja mandaps across the capital and the country. The festival concluded with the immersion of idols on Dashami tithi.

This year’s Durga Puja was more festive than any in the past. Except for a few minor untypical incidents, the entire celebration was joyous and fear-free. To mark the occasion, the government announced a five-day holiday for the first time. The grant money allocated for the puja was also increased. For the first time in Bangladesh's history, the head of government personally visited Durga Puja mandaps across various districts outside Dhaka. This generated immense enthusiasm among the Hindu community in the country, making them feel that the government stands firmly beside them.

The last few Durga Pujas in Bangladesh were marked by panic and anxiety. Especially over the past two years, the Hindu community faced various unpleasant incidents during their religious festival. Therefore, to ensure that no untypical incidents occurred during this year’s puja, the BNP government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman took maximum security precautions. To ensure the overall security of Durga Puja, nearly 6,500 SRB (Special Reserve Battalion) members were deployed daily across the country. Additionally, visible patrols were conducted using 550 pickups and 400 motorcycles. Intelligence surveillance was heightened nationwide, and SRB dog squads and bomb disposal units conducted necessary search operations at important puja mandaps and locations. Special force teams were kept ready to handle any emergent situations, alongside a required number of reserve personnel. Due to these precautionary measures, no incidents of vandalism occurred during this year's puja.

Following the fall of the Awami League government, between August 5 and October 9, 2024, a total of 46 incidents surrounding puja mandaps took place, resulting in 17 cases and 21 general diaries (GDs). Among the 47 total incidents surrounding puja mandaps, there were 30 acts of vandalism, 4 thefts, 3 cases of arson, and 10 other incidents, with a total of 19 people arrested.

Last year too, incidents of idol vandalism occurred across the country ahead of Durga Puja. Many panicked and closed down puja mandaps. Rumors were also spread, leading to attacks on the Hindu community.

This year as well, there were conspiracies to create chaos during Durga Puja, with multiple vested interest groups attempting to embarrass the government through terrorist activities. Every year, incidents of idol vandalism preceding Durga Puja in Bangladesh sow clouds of apprehension among minority Hindus, making everyone anxious about whether they could celebrate Durgotsav safely. Questions were raised: would the dominance of fundamentalists persist even after the establishment of a democratic government led by Tarique Rahman? Consequently, Hindus organized Durga Puja with a sense of apprehension.

To prevent such a situation from happening, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took the initiative to visit puja mandaps in various districts. As part of his tour to spread the message of harmony, he visited Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Chattogram on Navami, the final day of the puja.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited multiple Durga mandaps across several districts in the northern region, including the Radhagobind Dharmasabha Temple in Rangpur. Arriving at the mandap, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman waved to greet members of the Hindu community and exchanged pleasantries with devotees. At the request of visitors and devotees present, he also cheerfully clicked selfies with them. From Rangpur, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the Durga Puja mandap at the Dharmasabha Temple in Rajshahi, where he exchanged pleasantries with the priests and extended greetings to the Hindu community. Viewing the mandaps in Rangpur and Rajshahi, the Prime Minister arrived at J.M. Sen Hall at 8:20 PM on Tuesday. The Chattogram Metropolitan branch of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad has been organizing Durga Puja at J.M. Sen Hall for the past 40 years.

Parishad leaders noted that this was the first time a Prime Minister had ever come to J.M. Sen Hall to witness Durga Puja.

The Prime Minister's arrival created an extra wave of joy amidst the festive atmosphere of the mandap. People stood on both sides of the street, blowing conch shells (ulu dhwani) to welcome the Prime Minister to the mandap.

The Prime Minister's visit was not only historic, but his speeches in these areas were groundbreaking. In his addresses, the Prime Minister presented his vision of a transformed Bangladesh. His speeches in the three districts served as proof that Tarique Rahman is reshaping the country under the slogan "Bangladesh First."

Highlighting the participation of people from diverse religions, opinions, classes, and professions in Bangladesh's war of independence and the movement to establish democratic rights, Tarique Rahman stated: "During the Liberation War in 1971, people fought to liberate the country without considering religious identities. Later, during the movement to establish democratic rights, people of all religions, classes, and professions took to the streets."

Invoking the context of the 2024 mass uprising, the Prime Minister said that people from diverse backgrounds, classes, and professions—regardless of party, opinion, religion, or creed—had participated in that movement as well.

Tarique Rahman noted that people of different religions have been living together in Bangladesh for a long time, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an environment where everyone can continue to live in peace in the future.

"If we want to build our expected Bangladesh in the days ahead, people of all religions and opinions must work together for the country to build that desired Bangladesh," he said.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of ensuring education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to fulfill the expectations of the people. At the same time, he called upon everyone to work together to maintain peace and stability in the country.

Tarique Rahman stated that the people want stability, peace, and security in the country, and the government is working toward that very goal.

His speech is a symbol of Tarique Rahman’s wisdom and prudence. He is now translating his vision of a united Bangladesh into reality. By ensuring that this year's Durga Puja was conducted peacefully on the ground, the Prime Minister has proven himself to be the architect of building a Bangladesh for everyone.