Over 700 Puja Mandaps Deemed Vulnerable, Demands Army Deployment

The Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatan Jagaran Jote has declared that over 700 puja mandaps for the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, are potentially vulnerable. The organisation has also demanded army deployment at every mandap to ensure the safety of worshippers.

This was announced during a press conference held on Tuesday, 23 September, at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU). Additionally, the Jote called for the unconditional release of all prisoners, including their spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

Speaking at the conference, member Pradip Kanti De said:

• “So far, we have received reports of idol vandalism in five districts. Among the 700 mandaps identified as vulnerable, the majority are in Satkhira. To date, 55 mandaps in Satkhira have been classified as high-risk.
• Lists of vulnerable mandaps in Comilla, Chattogram, Gazipur, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi have also been submitted to the government to ensure adequate security.
• We have requested CCTV installation at each mandap at government expense.

He added that since the army is currently working with civil administration to maintain law and order, the Jote has requested army deployment during Puja to allow a peaceful celebration.

In a written statement, Prosenjit Kumar Haldar outlined eight demands to ensure the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh:

1. Form a neutral investigation commission for minority persecution incidents and ensure punishment through fast-track tribunals.
2. Enact minority protection legislation immediately.
3. Establish a separate ministry for minority affairs.
4. Upgrade Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian Welfare Trusts into the Hindu Foundation, Buddhist Foundation, and Christian Foundation, respectively.
5. Introduce laws for preservation and recovery of devottor property and properly implement the Vested Property Return Act.
6. Provide prayer rooms for minority students in government and private universities and halls.
7. Modernise Sanskrit and Pali education boards.
8. Declare five days of government holiday for Durga Puja and ensure necessary government holidays for major festivals of all minority communities.

Ahead of the festival, the Jote has submitted four urgent, actionable demands, including:

• Announce three days of government holiday for the upcoming Durga Puja.
• Unconditional release of spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and all other prisoners.
• Ensure an inclusive, secular, and discrimination-free state, integrating the Sanatan community in all national affairs.

Law enforcement agencies across the country are set to deploy personnel from 24 September (Wednesday) to maintain law and order during Durga Puja. However, preparatory security operations and intelligence gathering have already commenced at the field level, with various units intensifying surveillance in vulnerable areas.

This step underscores the heightened concern for the safety of religious minorities and the significance of Durga Puja in Bangladesh’s cultural and religious landscape.