Show summary Hide summary
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spent Tuesday visiting Hindu communities in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram to mark Durga Puja, underlining his government’s promise of security and inclusion for religious minorities. The outreach — paired with a hike in state funding for festival arrangements — signals a visible effort to reassure celebrants ahead of Bijoya Dashami.
Visits across three cities
During the day the prime minister stopped at a Puja mandap in Rangpur, visited the Dharmasabha Temple in Rajshahi and later joined evening observances at JM Sen Hall in Rahmatganj, Chattogram. Officials said he will return to Dhaka later tonight.
Supreme Court quota decision: BJP says it exposes opposition’s vote-bank tactics
Didgeridoo and sitar electrify Purana Qila: Indigenous Australia meets Indian classical
In brief remarks to those gathered, the prime minister called for sustained harmony among communities and stressed that government policy aims to protect every citizen’s right to safety and dignity, irrespective of faith or background.
What the government has announced
- Festival funding: The state grant for Durga Puja has been increased to Tk 5 crore, up from an initial allocation of Tk 4 crore.
- Confirmation: Bijon Kanti Sarkar, the prime minister’s special assistant for minority affairs, said the uplift followed a formal request from the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust and final approval by the prime minister.
- Festival timetable: The five-day celebrations conclude with the immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami, scheduled for October 21.
Why this matters now
The prime minister’s presence at Puja sites and the added funding address two immediate concerns for minority communities: visible state backing and the resources to run public religious events safely and with dignity. In a season when large gatherings can raise security questions, the visits serve both symbolic and practical purposes.
Organizers and worshippers often view high-level engagement as a reassurance that the state will help maintain order and support communal traditions. For readers across the country, the announcements clarify that public celebrations will have official backing through the end of the festival.
Voices and tone
Officials framed the visits as an affirmation of inclusive governance. The prime minister emphasized that religious belief is a personal matter while the responsibilities of the state extend to protecting everyone’s rights. He encouraged Hindu communities to observe the festival with confidence and joy.
Observers of minority affairs said the timing — at the peak of Durga Puja — increases the political and social visibility of the government’s commitment to pluralism without altering the day-to-day practices of the celebrations themselves.
As festivities proceed toward immersion day on October 21, local committees and the central welfare trust will coordinate logistics and security under the aegis of the increased grant, officials confirmed.
