Bangladesh Raises Durga Puja Grants, Extends Holiday And Strengthens Security

Bangladesh has increased government support for this year's Durga Puja and announced expanded security arrangements ahead of the Hindu festival. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government grant for puja mandaps has been raised from Tk 4 crore to Tk 5 crore following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The government has also extended the official Durga Puja holiday to three days, which will provide a five-day break when combined with the regular Friday and Saturday weekend.

Durga Puja will be celebrated at 33,851 mandaps across Bangladesh this year, according to figures cited by the Home Ministry, representing an increase of nearly 1,500 from last year. The government has directed authorities at national, divisional, district and upazila levels to coordinate arrangements for the festival. Officials have also been instructed to ensure the grants allocated to mandaps are distributed properly through the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.

Security monitoring is being strengthened through a mobile application developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC). The platform, previously used for other purposes, will allow information about incidents at puja venues to be transmitted quickly to authorities. District-level officials are being trained to use the system, while 24-hour monitoring cells will operate at Police Headquarters as well as divisional and district levels.

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Police stations are also collecting verified lists and contact details of volunteers working at individual mandaps. Volunteers will receive official identification cards where required to facilitate coordination with law enforcement agencies. Authorities have additionally been instructed to maintain uninterrupted electricity supplies at puja venues, with organisers asked to keep generators and rechargeable lights available as backup arrangements.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Shamim Kaiser has directed local administration and law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant, particularly during idol immersion. He said the government is focused on ensuring a safe and peaceful celebration across the country as the number of puja venues has increased. The measures follow an inter-ministerial meeting on preparations for the festival.

The latest measures come amid continued public attention on the security of religious minorities in Bangladesh. The government has said that law enforcement agencies will remain on heightened alert throughout the celebrations and respond if any threat emerges. Home Minister Salahuddin also said intelligence agencies had not identified any puja mandap as particularly vulnerable or high-risk at the time of his September 30 briefing.

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