Bangladesh Urges Hindus To Briefly Halt Durga Puja Celebrations During Muslim Prayer Times

Ahead of Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, the interim government has issued a directive urging the community to halt certain puja-related activities, particularly playing musical instruments, five minutes before the Muslim call to prayer, azaan, and during the offering of namaaz.

Home affairs adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced this on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for these activities to cease during the prayer period.

"Such activities need to cease during offering namaaz, and the pause will have to be followed from five minutes prior to azaan," Chowdhury stated.

He further elaborated that the puja committees across the country have been instructed to switch off musical instruments and sound systems during these times, a guideline that the committees have agreed to follow.

This year, a total of 32,666 puja mandaps (pandals) will be erected across the country, with 157 in Dhaka South City and 88 in Dhaka North City corporations.

Chowdhury noted that although last year the number of puja mandaps was 33,431, the number of mandaps is expected to exceed that figure this year. Quoting the Puja Celebration Parishad, he confirmed this increase and assured that discussions have been held to ensure round-the-clock security at all puja mandaps.

Chowdhury also highlighted that measures are being taken to allow for a smooth and safe celebration of Durga Puja, preventing any disruptions or "evil activities" by miscreants.

Meanwhile, in a separate address to the nation on Wednesday, chief adviser Muhammad Yunus reinforced the government's stance on maintaining communal harmony in Bangladesh.

"We are a nation of communal harmony. No one shall do any act that destroys religious harmony," Yunus affirmed.

Yunus further reiterated the government's commitment to building a democratic Bangladesh and ensuring that the nation does not fall into the hands of dictatorship.

He warned that any individual who disrupts social harmony or takes the law into their own hands would face strict consequences.

"No one should take the law into their own hands. If someone takes the law into his own hands and creates a chaotic environment in society, we will definitely bring him under punishment," Yunus said.