“Durga Puja has been arranged this year at 30,213 mandaps across the country. An adequate number of Law enforcers has been deployed to ensure the security of the mandaps and maintain law and order,” he said.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the Durga Puja arranged by Sanatan Samaj Kalyan Sangha at Krishibid Institute of Khamar Bari in the capital.

The minister said, “I call upon all to come to puja mandaps wearing masks and complying with the health safety guidelines.”

Asaduzzaman said the people of Bangladesh are living in peace as the country is following the non-communal spirit of Bangabandhu.

He said the people of Bangladesh are peace-loving ones and committed to maintaining religious harmony. “Bangladesh is moving forward by overcoming all the obstacles as people here are used to living by maintaining harmony and respecting each other irrespective of their caste and creed. The people of this country also do not pamper terrorists.”

The minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina loves people and she is taking the country forward with their cooperation. “The people of Bangladesh responded to what she called for. They’ve also rejected the militant terrorists responding to her call.”

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, began today (Thursday) with Maha Sashthi puja at temples across the country maintaining health guidelines set by the government to contain the corona pandemic.

A mood of festivities persists among the devotees irrespective of ages marking the festival while adequate security measures have already been taken at puja pandals across the country.

The five-day festival starts with 'Bodhon' of the Goddess Durga marking Sashthi while the festival will come to an end with the immersion of idols of the Goddess Durga in nearby rivers and water bodies across the country on October 26.

Also read: Durga Puja begins Thursday