Excitement is running high among members of the Hindu community in Rangpur as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to visit temples in the city on Tuesday to exchange greetings with devotees, adding a special dimension to the celebrations of Sharadiya Durga Puja.
The Hindu devotees see the visit as a rare occasion, saying the presence of a prime minister at their puja mandaps outside Dhaka has doubled their joy and strengthened their hopes for greater recognition and security for the community.
They said this is the first time a Bangladeshi head of government is visiting mandaps outside Dhaka during Sharadiya Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.
Tarique Rahman will begin his day-long tour at 9am by travelling from Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka to Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari by military aircraft.
He will then visit the historic Dharmasabha Temple, also known as the Radha Gobinda Temple, in Rangpur city, where he will exchange greetings with members of the Sanatan community.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit the nearby Karunamoyee Kali Temple before returning to Saidpur.
From there, he will travel to Rajshahi, where he will visit the Dharmasabha Temple, address a public rally at the historic Madrasah ground and hold meetings with local party leaders.
Tarique Rahman will later fly to Chattogram to visit the JM Sen Hall Puja Mandap in Rahmatganj before returning to Dhaka at night.
The planned visit has generated enthusiasm among Hindu devotees and local BNP leaders and activists, with preparations underway to welcome the Prime Minister.
A special occasion for devotees
Sunil Roy, member secretary of the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Welfare Front’s Rangpur city unit, said members of the Sanatan community have been delighted at the Prime Minister’s planned visit.
“We are very happy and excited about the Prime Minister’s arrival. We will welcome him with our presence and show our enthusiasm,” he said, describing the visit as a rare occasion for the community.
“Since Bangladesh gained independence, no prime minister has visited a temple outside Dhaka as part of Durga Puja celebrations. This is the first time, and Tarique Rahman is coming to our Dharmasabha Temple and Kali Temple. The visit begins with us, so members of the Sanatan community are very excited and delighted,” Sunil Roy said.
Priyanka Saha, a priest at Karunamoyee Kali Temple, said the Prime Minister’s planned visit has added to the joy of this year’s Durga Puja.
“We are very happy that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is coming to visit our temple in Rangpur. His visit has doubled the joy of our Puja celebrations,” she said.
Priyanka expressed hope that the Prime Minister will continue visiting temples in Rangpur and other parts of the country during future festivals, adding that the Hindu community wants to celebrate its religious occasions in a secure and peaceful environment.
“We are grateful to the Prime Minister. We hope he will continue to ensure the safety of our community and stand beside us,” she said.
Arup Dutta, joint secretary of the Dharmasabha Temple Committee, said the community is particularly excited because the Prime Minister will visit both the Radha Gobinda Temple and the nearby Kali Temple.
He said the visit has brought an additional dimension to the festival, combining the joy of Durga Puja with the excitement of welcoming the head of government.
Temples at the heart of community life
The Radha Gobinda Temple is one of the oldest and most significant gathering places for the Sanatan community in the city. Beyond worship, it has long served as a centre for religious festivals, community gatherings and cultural and social activities.
The temple committee’s president, Parth Bose, said devotees are delighted that the Prime Minister will visit their temple and see how the festival is celebrated in the region.
“We are very happy that the Prime Minister is coming to a temple in Rangpur. He will see the celebrations firsthand and exchange greetings with us and the devotees. This is a great joy for us,” he said.
Preparations across the city
Rangpur city has taken on a festive appearance ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, with the city corporation and local organisations working to prepare roads and public spaces and welcome Tarique Rahman.
Roads and dividers have been cleaned and painted, small flowering plants have been placed along dividers, and footpaths along major roads have been cleared. Banners welcoming the Prime Minister have also been displayed across the city.
Cultural organisations, including performers associated with the Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sanskritik Sangstha (JASAS), are preparing programmes to welcome Tarique Rahman with songs and highlight the region’s tradition of communal harmony.
The administration has made extensive preparations, including a four-tier security arrangement involving the Special Security Force, National Security Intelligence, police, Border Guard Bangladesh and other law enforcement agencies.
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Israt Jahan said the Prime Minister will visit the Radha Gobinda Temple’s puja mandap and exchange greetings with devotees during the festival.
Mahfuz Un Nabi Chowdhury, Rangpur city BNP member secretary and Rangpur City Corporation administrator, said people are showing considerable enthusiasm, particularly members of the Hindu community.
The Prime Minister’s visit, he said, has added to the excitement surrounding the festival.
For many devotees, the visit is not only an opportunity to welcome the head of government but also a chance to share celebrations of the festival with him and convey their hopes for a peaceful, secure and inclusive future.
Earlier on Sunday night, the Prime Minister visited Durga Puja mandaps in Dhaka’s Mohakhali and Banani areas. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him during the visits.