BNP leaders and activists will work in coordination with local puja celebration committees to help ensure the security of Durga Puja venues across the country, including Dhaka, party Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Saturday night.

He said the decision was taken at a meeting of the BNP National Standing Committee held at the party chairman’s office in Gulshan, chaired by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Rizvi said the party policymakers discussed ways to ensure that members of the Hindu community could celebrate Durga Puja peacefully and share the joy of the festival with others.

He said BNP leaders and activists would work as volunteers in coordination with local puja committees across the country.

“The leaders discussed in detail how our party activists would coordinate with local puja celebration committees and play a voluntary role at puja venues across the country. Our party leaders and activists will stand guard at every puja venue like vigilant sentinels,” Rizvi said.

He said the party has already formed a 12-member Durga Puja monitoring committee led by BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon.

Rizvi alleged that various quarters were conspiring against the country and the democratic government.

He expressed hope that the government would be able to counter all forms of propaganda, misdeeds and conspiracies through efficient management, adding that BNP leaders and activists would remain vigilant.

The meeting was held at the BNP chairman’s office in Gulshan in the evening.

BNP Standing Committee members Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman, AZM Zahid Hossain, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Aman Ullah Aman, Ismail Zabiullah and Farhad Halim were present.