Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday visited Dhakeswari Temple  in Old Dhaka to exchange greetings with the Hindu community on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, the largest Hindu religious festival in Bangladesh.                                                           He extended his greetings to the country’s all members of the Hindu community. Prof Yunus congratulates Nobel Peace Prize 2024 laureates Nihon Hidankyo Earlier, Prof Yunus said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. "Durga Puja is not only a festival of the Hindu community… it has now become a festival for all. The destruction of evil forces and the worship of truth and beauty are the main features of the festival," he said in a message on the occasion of Durga Puja. Reset Button: Prof Yunus didn't mean wiping out Bangladesh's proud history of 1971 Prof Yunus said the constitution of the country guarantees equal rights to the people of all religions and castes.  "This country belongs to all of us. This country is a safe home to all irrespective of caste and religion," he said. He wished for peace, wellbeing and prosperity of all the citizens of Bangladesh. The government has said that law enforcement agencies are sincerely focusing on the security concerns shared by the Hindu community.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom said on Thursday night that the authorities would arrest six youths within 48 hours who took the stage at a puja mandap and sang two songs, including an Islamic one, claiming they would only sing a patriotic song. “No matter who they are and how powerful they are, they will be arrested within the next 24 to 48 hours,” she said while visiting the JM Sen Hall Puja mandap. Durga Puja celebrations in Dhaka draw crowds amid tight security measures A group of six youths disrupted the puja stage at JM Sen Hall, the largest puja mandap in the port city, and sang two songs, which angered the Hindu community, who were peacefully celebrating Durga Puja. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with some claiming that the offenders were Shibir members, although the identities of the youths have yet to be confirmed. Hindus celebrating Puja peacefully: Home Adviser “We can’t take it lightly. This is a heinous act. We are trying to identify them through proper authorities,” Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee, Chattogram Finance Secretary Sukanta Mohajan Tutul told UNB at the puja venue. He mentioned that the youths initially informed the Puja Committee members that they would sing a patriotic song but instead sang two Islamic songs. Tutul added that they had identified the individuals as members of the Chattogram Cultural Academy. Rumour Scanner, an independent Bangladeshi fact-checking website that debunks fake news, myths, and misinformation, confirmed that the viral video was real and unedited. DC Farida Khanom criticised the person in charge of the stage at the time, stating that they did not perform their responsibilities properly. She also urged the Puja Celebration Committee to take action against the person responsible for managing the stage. “Bangladesh is a country of religious harmony. This is a festival for all. We have taken all necessary preparations to ensure peaceful celebrations of the festival,” she said. Puja Committee President Ashish Bhattacharya said the incident was hurtful and assured the local administration that they would suspend the person who was in charge of the stage. Speaking to UNB, Tutul explained that they arranged cultural functions in two sessions and that the incident took place during the first session. CA's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir, Assistant Press Secretaries Nayem Ali and Shuchismita Tithi, and senior government officials visited the site and talked to the Puja Committee members. President of the Chattogram Cultural Academy, Selim Jaman, claimed that the Puja Committee had invited them to perform. About 2,000 police personnel were deployed in the city to ensure security during Durga Puja. In Chattogram, Durga Puja is being celebrated at 2,458 locations, including 293 puja mandaps in the city and 2,165 in 15 upazilas of the district. Earlier, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus extended greetings to all members of the Hindu community in the country and reiterated that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony.

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, has began at temples and makeshift mandaps across the country amid due religious fervour and festivity. The 5-day celebration began with invocation of Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Shasthi. This year Durga Puja is being celebrated at 32, 666 mandaps across the country including 257 in the capital. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus greeted people of the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja.  Extensive security measures taken for peaceful Durga Puja celebration: DMP Chief The government extended Duga Puja holiday by a day to facilitate its joyous celebration. Ahead of Durga Puja, security has been significantly ramped up nationwide. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam on Monday said that members of the Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be on 24-hour duty at each mandap to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration. Durga Puja holiday extended by one more day During a press briefing at Dhakeshwari Temple today, the IGP emphasized that the Bangladesh Police, alongside other law enforcement agencies, are taking extensive measures to create a festive environment. The interim government has issued a set of instructions for the local administration and law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order situation during the Durga Puja celebrations across the country.

The Durga Puja holiday will now last four days, starting from Thursday. This extension comes as Friday and Saturday are already government holidays this month. A notification regarding this will be issued soon, according to Mahfuj Alam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, who shared the information with reporters at the Dhakeshwari Temple on Tuesday morning. "This extra holiday has been granted to ensure smooth and joyous celebrations of the Durga Puja," he said. Apart from this, measures are being taken to ensure that the Buddhist community can celebrate the "Kathin Chibar Dan" smoothly, he added.  Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and leaders of the Hindu community, among others, were present at the press conference. Durga Puja around the corner; 257 mandaps set up in Dhaka The formal celebrations of Durga Puja begin on Wednesday, with the final day, Dashami, falling on Sunday, October 13. On Dashami, with the immersion of the idol, Durga Puja for the Hindu community will conclude. In light of this, Sunday has also been declared a government holiday. Altogether, the Durga Puja holiday this year will extend for four days.

Hindu community will celebrate Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the community, at 257 mandaps in Dhaka city this year. Durga Puja will begin on October 9 and end with the 'Bijoya Dashami' procession and immersion of the idols of goddess Durga in water bodies on October 13. Puja mandaps have been installed at Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Mission and Ashram, Banani, Kalabagan, Shakharibazar, Siddheswari Kali Temple, Ramna Kali Temple, Jagannath Hall at Dhaka University and other temples at Farmgate, and the historic areas of Shakharibazar and Tantibazar in Old Dhaka. The last minute preparations for the puja are going on in full swing, with artisans working to give finishing touch to the idols. Buyers from the community are thronging city markets, branded shops and shopping malls to grab their best outfit. Customers are gathering at traditional shops in Old Dhaka's Shakharibazar to buy essential items including shells, idol garments, bells, clay pots, earthen lamps, incense sticks, divine garlands, crowns, sarees, dhotis, panjabis, and various ornaments for the festival. Artisans give finishing touch to idols ahead of Durga Puja To prevent any untoward incidents during the Durga Puja celebrations, strict security measures have been taken nationwide. A central police control room will be set up at Dhakeshwari Temple compound to oversee the overall security of the mandaps in the capital. Following a visit to the national temple on Saturday, Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman said, “Everyone in this country has equal rights. Each person will practice their own religion. Everything necessary will be done for this.” He assured that the army will be present for security, encouraging attendees to visit the pavilions without fear. “We aim to create a enjoyable environment where everyone can celebrate the festival,” he said. Over 212,192 members of Ansar and VDP will be deployed across 32,666 mandaps across the country.   Moreover, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members will remain vigilant.  

With a few days left for the Hindu community’s largest religious festival Durga Puja, the last minute preparations are going on in full swing with painting and decorating the idols made by artisans at mandaps in Khulna. This year, a total of 991 mandaps will host the festival in Khulna district, including 101 in the city itself. However, the local administration says that this number may increase. The formal festivities will commence on Tuesday with the Mahashashthi rituals, and will end with the immersion of idols amid processions on Saturday next. Ahead of the puja, shopping malls are bustling with devotees shopping for the celebrations. Visiting several temples in the city, it was found that making idols is already over but now the artisans are painting and decorating them. Chandra Shekhar Mandal, an artisan from Assasuni in Satkhira, said that this year there are fewer mandaps compared to previous years, which has resulted in a reduced workload for him. Read: Interim govt issues guidelines for maintaining law and order during Durga Puja "We've received orders for only four idols this year. We've started the clay work 10-15 days ago, and now we're in the painting phase," he said. According to directives from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Religious Affairs, Ansar members will be on duty at every mandap throughout the festivities. Joint forces, including the army, navy, coast guard, and police, will beef up patrols in the lead-up to and during the festival days. Close-circuit cameras will be installed at the mandaps, and strict action will be taken against the spread of rumors or misinformation on social media. Idol immersion will end by 7pm, and musical instruments will be off during the times of the Azan and prayers. A control room will remain open round the clock a day. Read more: Narayanganj artisans passing busy time making idols for Durga Puja This year, of the 991 mandaps in Khulna, 101 are set in the city, 113 in Batiaghata, 214 in Dumuria, 107 in Terokhada, 155 in Paikgasa, 84 in Dakop, 63 in Dighalia, 34 in Phultala, 74 in Rupsa, and 46 in Koyra.

The Traffic Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has advised residents of some areas to start for early to beat possible disruptions due various street programmes on Sunday (July 07, 2024). In a press note on Sunday morning, it mentioned that a rally is scheduled to be brought out marking the Hindu community’s religious festival Ratha Yatra in the city and it will parade several roads of Dhaka. Read more: DMP to commuters: Leave for work early to avoid possible traffic jams Moreover, the city dwellers may face traffic jams due to some important events and ongoing anti-quota movement. Hence, the Traffic Department requested residents of Ramna, Motijheel and Wari areas to hit the streets with time in hand.

Saraswati Puja, a major religious festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated across Bangladesh today with much enthusiasm, festivity and religious fervor. Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Bangla month of Magh. The day is called 'Vasant Panchami'. Hindu devotees, especially students, worship Goddess Saraswati and celebrate the puja at educational institutions and temples. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday greeted the Hindu community on the occasion of Saraswati Puja. Also read: Saraswati Puja being celebrated Jagannath University central Puja Udjapan Committee is organizing Saraswati Puja on the campus. Besides, in the capital, Saraswati Puja will also be arranged at different places.  

The quest for a complete history In our research work exploring how 1971 events impacted on the marginalized people we have covered the experiences of three population groups. They are: a) the rural people in general b) the experiences of women and c) the history of the Hindu community who were targeted specifically by the Pakistan army. However, there are other groups as well and data collection began a few years back to find out how a few other marginal groups lived or died in 1971. In dealing/choosing such marginalized groups we find that two criteria apply. One is those who were socio-economically marginal and thus are marginalized in the historical narrative process. The other is the minority marginalized as they have not been found worthy of much attention. Often both criteria apply to the same group. Read more: 1971 loss a ‘military failure’, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal says after ex army chief called it ‘political failure’ The Left out majority Villagers are a prime example of marginalization. Not much work has been done on them but increasingly, analysis shows that villagers held the key to effective resistance, sheltering and participation which made a significant contribution in keeping the occupied state alive.  Perhaps this was the most significant contribution of them all. The reason is simple. The war was played out in several spaces, national and international but the core was occupied Bangladesh. This is where history was produced as the overwhelming majority of Bangladeshis lived there. They bore the brunt of impact through the critical resistance period from March to end April and faced most of the assault. The resistance would also have been impossible without their support. After the first stage when Pakistan re-captured Bangladesh, many people went to India to be trained to return as fighters. These people found shelter with the villagers which allowed the resistance to happen and ultimately eat through Pakistan’s torso in Bangladesh. Finally, when the joint India-Bangladesh  forces mounted the end game, the villagers' support became critical too. As Gen. Aurora, Chief of the Joint Command said, “It’s the villagers who let us in. Had they not wanted, no army could have entered Bangladesh. “ It shows the enormous historical significance which many historians have not addressed properly. In this case the majority has been left out by historians because they had no political significance to sustain the ruling class narrative.  The same applies to the history of women in 1971. The marginalized minority There are other members of the marginalized population who are minority by their population size. At the same time they could also be socio-economically that. A case in point is the situation of the sex workers. We know almost nothing about them as they are in general socially invisible and in history have become lost. But it is in many ways a terribly vulnerable time for them as clients dipped amidst the general insecurity. Did they face starvation? Changed their profession?   What was the nature of their suffering?  There is another group about whom we know very little though they cut across several population segments and were very vulnerable: the elderly.  The post 65+ population in Bangladesh today is around 20%. As an intersectional community, they represent every segment whether gender, economy, class, habitation or otherwise. However, we have no specific information on how they lived or died in 1971. Our current work is now focused on these left out groups who are not considered historically significant but who lived suffered and died that year. We are excerpting from two of our case studies. Read more: 'Recognising the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971': ICSF welcomes US Congress initiative Somen  Das (as told by his son Horen Das ) “Baba was hurt on the night of the 25th when the Pak army torched the Palpara slum.  He hurt his feet when we were all trying to run away. It was dark and we tried to cross the ditches and water and Baba slipped and fell. I pulled him up but he couldn’t walk but we couldn’t stay there. Two other people somehow dragged Baba to the other side of the khal and we reached Moghbazar area. “ “ We took shelter in the home of the family where I worked as a gardener and spent the first few days too scared even to go out of the room. Baba was very ill but we didn’t know where to find a doctor. The malik of the home finally got a doctor and he got some treatment but he needed an X-ray which we were too scared to go and get done.. We heard that DMC had been raided and the Pak army was looking for Hindus. He was given some ointment and pain killers, that is all. “ “My sisters and wife were young and sisters also unmarried, and they were my responsibility so I was very worried about them. My wife’s parent’s home was in the Munshiganj interior and we decided to move there with Ma too. Bab couldn’t walk properly and was always in pain. He refused to go and we were stuck. The malik was very kind and asked us to leave Baba with him and we all left. “. “ We came back after the war and found him alive. He was physically better but his spirit was gone. Palpara was not inhabitable either so we had to move. Ma’s family lived in the old city and Baba refused to go and live in his in-laws' home. He stayed back and did odd carpentry work there. A year later, he slipped and fell down and hurt his head. He was taken to the hospital but he never recovered. “ Rashid Ahmed, Shantinagar (told by Shahed ahmed, his son) “ The army raided our home because some locals had informed them that Muktis had entered our house. Not true but some people wanted to cause trouble for us.  Father was a dementia patient and didn’t know what was going on. He was sitting on a wheelchair and burst into tears like a child. We tried to tell the army that he was sick but they shouted at us and we became silent with fear.” “After the search was over, they lined us up and said we are lucky that they saw so many jaynamaz (prayer rugs) and Qurans. So they were sure we were not Hindus. But at this moment father screamed and started to howl. One person went and told father to shut up and shook him. He didn’t understand.    I said he was an old man and had gone mad. What else could I say ? They laughed and made faces and then left. We were saved and safe but father hadn’t been fed for hours and became very sick.” More studies of groups needed In Bangladesh, we are more concerned about “correct “history instead of complete history. Instead of looking for facts, we are looking for political affirmations. The result has been the loss of information about many groups whichever way we define.  Before all information is lost, people from such groups can try to document the social-economic history to complete the mosaic that creates the history of 1971. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked all not to magnify any incident that goes against any religion, rather look at the punitive measures that have been taken by the government. “Do not magnify any incident that takes place in any area (of the country), rather I will request you to look at the punitive measures of the government against that incident,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a greetings exchange programme with the Hindu religious people of the country on the occasion of Durga Puja. The programme was held at the premises of Dhakeshwari National Temple while the Prime Minister joined the programme virtually from her official residence--Ganabhaban. Sheikh Hasina also sought cooperation from all including the Hindus to maintain communal harmony in the country. “I will seek your cooperation in this regard and hope that you will cooperate,” she said. Read: Be vocal against anti-state propaganda: PM She said that the government always tries to uphold the non-communal spirit or secular character of the country and step forward towards prosperity maintaining that. The Prime Minister again categorically warned that no one will be allowed to undermine anyone’s religious sentiment. “No one will be allowed to say anything (derogatory) hitting others’ religious sentiment. This is applicable for any religion,” she said. She said that religion is about one’s belief. “It is one’s belief on Allah or the Creator, we have to go with that belief.” In this connection, she said that Islam is a very open and generous religion, and there are directives in Islam to show respect to all other religions. She mentioned about Surah Kafirun where it is stated that every person will perform their respective religious rituals and people from all religions will enjoy equal rights. “And we believe that from our heart.” Read: Convey misrule, brutality under BNP regimes: PM tells expat Bangladeshis