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The Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has appealed to the Hindu community to pause their Durga Puja activities or music during Azan and namaz. Home affairs adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that puja committees have been requested to turn off musical instruments and sound systems, and they have agreed to comply.
"Such activities need to cease during offering namaz, and the pause will have to be followed from five minutes prior to azaan," the Times of India quoted Chowdhury as saying.
The announcement was made following a meeting on the law and order situation in the country in anticipation of Durga Puja, the largest Hindu religious festival in the nation.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, as many as 32,666 puja mandaps will be set up across the country this year during Dura Puja. Of the total, 157 mandaps will be in Dhaka South City and 88 in North City Corporations.
Chowdhury also informed that last year 33, 431 puja mandaps were set up across the country, and highlighted the increase in the numbers this time.
Chowdhury also assured that security would be provided throughout the festival, starting from the creation of the idols.
"We have discussed how to ensure round-the-clock security at the puja mandaps. Measures will be taken to facilitate the celebration of puja without any hindrance and prevent the evil activities of miscreants," the Dhaka Tribune quoted him as saying.
The announcement comes a few days after the Bangladesh government recently imposed a ban on the export of Hilsa fish. The decision, which came a few days before Durga Puja, will have a great impact on the Bengali people. After this decision, the price of Hilsa i.e. Bangladeshi Ilish's price (called in Bengali) has witnessed a massive spike in Bengal and now one has to spend more money to buy fish.
