Tarique Rahman visits Durga Puja pavilions in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began visiting Durga Puja pavilions on Tuesday (October 20) to meet members of the Hindu community and exchange greetings during their biggest religious festival, the Bangladesh Government said.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported that Mr. Rahman left Dhaka for Rangpur in the morning. He is scheduled to visit pavilions in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram. His Press Secretary, Saleh Shibly, said the Government had taken the necessary steps to ensure peaceful celebrations across the country.

He added that everyone had the right to security, regardless of religion.

The Government has also raised its Durga Puja grant from 4 crore taka to 5 crore taka. Bijon Kanti Sarkar, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Minority Affairs, told The Daily Star on September 29 that the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust had requested 4 crore taka. The amount was increased with the Prime Minister’s approval.

Mr. Rahman handed over the cheque on October 7, along with 3 crore taka for the Buddhist community’s Kathin Chibar Dan festival.

A Government notification issued on October 7 declared public holidays on October 20, 21 and 22. Together with the weekend on October 23 and 24, this gives Government employees five consecutive days off.

The Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council welcomed the extension on October 6, saying it met a long-standing demand of religious minorities. Durga Puja has been a public holiday in Bangladesh before; the latest decision extended it to three days.