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Durga Puja is right around the corner and while the festival is a spectacle in West Bengal, the minority Hindu population in Bangladesh also celebrates it. However, this year, Hindus in the country might have to play by some rules imposed by the new interim government under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The current administration in India's neighbouring country has urged the Hindu community to "pause" Durga Puja-related activities like playing musical instruments five minutes before the time of azaan and during namaaz, according to a report by Times of India.
Hindus in Bangladesh have been facing religious persecution after the country descended into political turmoil due to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's alleged mismanagement and her subsequent ouster. Reports of attacks against Hindus put various minority rights groups on alert, with many from the community trying to flee Bangladesh.
The interim government, meanwhile, has downplayed the attacks on Hindus with Bangladesh government's Chief Adviser Yunus saying last week that the issue has been "exaggerated".
'Don't play music during namaaz, azaan'
Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the country's home affairs adviser, on Tuesday, said that puja committees had been asked to stop playing any musical instrument and shut off sound systems.
"Such activities need to cease during offering namaaz, and the pause will have to be followed from five minutes prior to azaan," Chowdhury said.
He said that the committees have agreed to do the same.
How will B'desh celebrate Durga Puja this year?
Meanwhile, communal tensions in Bangladesh are not expected to hamper Durga Puja festivities as Chowdhury said the number of puja mandaps is expected to up this year.
As of now, a total of 32,666 mandaps will be set up across the country. "We've discussed how to ensure round-the-clock security at puja mandaps," the Home Affairs adviser said.
Amid concerns of possible unrest during Durga puja, the interim government has warned potential troublemakers, pledging tough action against those disrupting communal harmony or targeting places of worship during the Hindu festival.
“If anyone disrupts or harasses people at worship halls, we will not spare them. We will bring them under the law and ensure peace,” Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain said during a visit to the Prematli Gaurang Bari Kalimandir in Godagari at Rajshahi district.
