The Bangladeshi government has requested that Hindu communities temporarily suspend Durga Puja activities during Namaz and Azaan to promote communal harmony. This directive aims to address potential conflicts as the two religious observances overlap.
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that puja committees have been instructed to turn off musical instruments and sound systems during these times. The committees have agreed to comply with this request, which stipulates that activities should cease five minutes before Azaan begins.
Chowdhury also shared that this year, a total of 32,666 Durga Puja mandaps will be set up across Bangladesh. Of these, 157 will be in Dhaka South City and 88 in Dhaka North City. He emphasized that extensive security arrangements are being made to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the celebrations, aiming to prevent any disruptions by miscreants.
The government believes this approach will foster peace and respect between different religious communities during the festive period. Durga Puja, a major Hindu festival, and Namaz and Azaan, key Islamic practices, highlight the need for sensitive management of religious observances in a diverse society like Bangladesh.
By asking for this temporary suspension, the government seeks to balance the religious practices of both communities, reflecting the ongoing effort to maintain harmony in a multi-faith country.
