Ensure security during Durga Puja

Drawing on a decade of media and rights-group documentation, a civic platform named Sampriti Jatra has identified 29 districts as vulnerable to potential communal unrest and targeted violence during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities. Among them, five districts—Dhaka, Rangpur, Jashore, Chandpur and Noakhali—have been categorised as high-risk, while 24 others have been marked moderately vulnerable. These findings should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities, who must gear up to ensure maximum security across the country during the puja festivities.

Sampriti Jatra's findings also highlight a disturbing new trend: religious sites beyond Hindu temples are increasingly under threat. According to media reports, nearly 80 attacks on shrines and dargahs took place within the first six months of the interim government alone, while police records cite 44 attacks on 40 shrines between August 2024 and January 2025. Although discrepancies may exist between official data and the ground reality, the trajectory remains concerning.

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When will we see effective govt action?

Speakers at the platform's press conference, including researchers and cultural activists, expressed frustration over the government's inability to curb extremist attacks and mob violence. They alleged that such incidents were getting normalised through silence, delayed intervention, lack of proper investigation, and absence of justice. This echoes the experience of past years, when no effective trial or redress followed incidents of communal violence. Without visible accountability, perpetrators are emboldened, and minority communities are left to live in fear.

This year, preparations are underway to organise Durga Puja in more than 33,000 mandaps and temples across the country—up from over 31,000 last year, including 258 sites in Dhaka. The interim government has allocated Tk 5 crore in grants for this year's celebrations, but the funds—ranging from Tk 5,000 to Tk 15,000 per mandap—cannot, by themselves, ensure security. It is imperative that the authorities treat Sampriti Jatra's findings with due importance and hash out a plan that includes preventive deployment, community engagement, and rapid-response mechanisms. Police and local administrations must coordinate with puja committees to secure mandaps, processions, and vulnerable neighbourhoods, particularly those 29 districts. In addition, the government must demonstrate that communal violence will no longer be met with impunity. Only sound, preventive actions can ensure a smooth, peaceful celebration of Durga Puja.