Durga Puja will be celebrated in a more festive manner this year: Home Adviser

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chwodhury today (17 September) said this year's Durga Puja will be celebrated in a more festive and peaceful manner in comparison to the past. 

"I want to assure you all that the Durga Puja of this time will be celebrated in a more proper and peaceful manner than that of the previous year. It will be festive," he said after visiting the Ramna Kali Mandir in the capital this afternoon. 

The Home Adviser appreciated the organizing committee of the Ramna Kali Mandir for their preparations to hold Durga Puja in a well organised way. 

Replying to a query from journalists, Jahangir said that there is no threat of any attack around the Durga Puja celebrations.  

"I hope the Durga Puja will be held in an unhindered and festive way," he said. 

The puja mandaps across the country will be brought under 24-hour surveillance with deployment of Ansar, police and other law enforcement agencies. 

Referring to increased allocation from the government for the Durga Puja, he said the government has allocated Tk5 crore this year, which was Tk4 crore last year.

"During the 15 years of the Awami League regime, the government had only allocated Tk2 crore for the Durga Puja celebrations," he said.

The Home Adviser said the number of Durga Puja mandaps have also increased across the country. 

He called upon all not to spread misleading information regarding celebrations of the Durga Puja. 

Jahangir requested all not to pay heed to any rumour, saying that they have developed an app which helps to know the exact situation of the Durga Puja celebrations across the country and take prompt action accordingly. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ramna Kali Mandir Committee President Arpana Roy thanked the Home Adviser for taking overall security measures for peaceful celebrations of the Durga Puja at the temple.