Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General (DG) Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui on Wednesday said the country’s largest religious festival of the Hindu community, Sharadiya Durga Puja, is being observed in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
Ashrafuzzaman made the remarks while visiting the traditional Dhakeshwari and Ramna Kali Mandirs in Dhaka.
He said the BGB has been entrusted, alongside other law enforcement agencies, with ensuring security for Durga Puja celebrations across the country.
“BGB is guarding more than 2,000 puja mandaps in border areas, in addition to providing security at major mandaps in Dhaka and other parts of the country. Our aim is to ensure that people of all faiths can celebrate their religious festivals without hindrance. With one day left, I firmly believe that with the collective efforts of all, this year’s Durga Puja will conclude in a very peaceful and harmonious manner,” he said.
To prevent any untoward incidents, the DG said, the BGB has intensified intelligence surveillance and conducted special patrols in border areas. The force is also coordinating closely with local administrations and other law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order nationwide, he said.
During his visit, the DG exchanged greetings with Hindu devotees and met with the presidents and members of the Durga Puja Celebration Committees of Dhakeshwari and Ramna Kali Mandiris.
Additional Director General (Operations and Training), the Dhaka Sector Commander, and other senior BGB officials accompanied him.
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Since September 24, a total of 430 BGB platoons have been deployed, with 24 base camps set up across Dhaka and border districts to ensure security at 2,870 puja mandaps nationwide.
Of these, 1,417 mandaps are in border areas, including 15 in the hill tracts, while 1,453 are outside border zones. Among the latter, 441 mandaps are in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur city corporations; 694 in Chattogram metropolitan area, Raozan, and Rangunia; and 318 in other parts of the country.