Rangunia (Chattogram) Correspondent

Publication Date: 20 October  2026

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated and associate organizations visited various temples and Sharadiya Durga Puja mandaps in Parua Union No. 5 of Rangunia Upazila, Chattogram. During the visits, they spoke with the people responsible for the puja mandaps, enquired about the well-being of members of the Hindu community, and exchanged greetings on the occasion of Durga Puja.

During the visits, the leaders enquired about the overall festive atmosphere. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining religious harmony, strengthening mutual cooperation, and ensuring a peaceful environment throughout the festival. They called on everyone at the local level to remain conscious of their responsibilities in preserving cordial relationships among people of different religious communities.

Those present included Syed Ahmed, a senior BNP leader from Parua Union; Muhammad Yunus, a senior member of the Upazila Jubo Dal and former general secretary of Parua Union Jubo Dal; veteran leader Sujit Barua; Muhammad Sohel, former president of the Union Chhatra Dal and former joint convener of Rangunia Upazila Jubo Dal; Muhammad Selim, senior joint convener of the Union Jubo Dal; and Muhammad Saiful, president of the Union Sramik Dal.

Others present included Lokman, Kazi Jiku, general secretary of Ward No. 4 Chhatra Dal, student leaders Iqbal, Ramzan, Sirajuddullah, Moinuddin, Akhtar, Jisad, and other leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations.

During the visits, the leaders said that people of all religions in Bangladesh have the right to observe their religious festivals and rituals according to their respective beliefs. They stressed that mutual respect, tolerance, and an atmosphere of harmony are essential to upholding this right. They also urged everyone to remain vigilant so that no individual or group could undermine communal harmony.

They further stated that if any untoward incident occurred during the festival, cooperation with the local administration and law enforcement agencies would be important in addressing the situation. They also noted that collective efforts by local residents were necessary to maintain peace and prevent any form of disorder.

Meanwhile, members of the relevant puja committees expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and security measures for Durga Puja. In response to questions from journalists, they said that, based on their experience, this year's Durga Puja was being celebrated in a more orderly and pleasant atmosphere than in previous years. They particularly expressed satisfaction with the strengthened security arrangements at the puja mandaps.

According to the puja committee representatives, six members of the Ansar-VDP were deployed at each puja mandap to maintain security this year. They claimed that in previous years, three members had been assigned to each mandap. They also expressed satisfaction with the support provided by the administration and the overall security arrangements.

Mutual cooperation and cordial relationships between the Muslim and Hindu communities in Parua Union also came into focus during the visits. The puja committee representatives said that maintaining friendly and cooperative relationships among people of different religions would help ensure that religious festivals could be organized more peacefully.

They expressed hope that people from different walks of life, including members of the local Muslim community, would continue to extend their cooperation in the future. Such support, they said, would enable members of the Hindu community to celebrate their religious festivals without disruption.

The puja committee representatives expressed their gratitude to the relevant administrative authorities, law enforcement agencies, and local residents for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth and peaceful celebration of Durga Puja. They said that mutual respect, empathy, and collective efforts could further strengthen the tradition of religious harmony in the area.