New Delhi/Dhaka: As Durga Puja approaches, the Hindu community in Bangladesh faces new restrictions imposed by the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. While Durga Puja is a major festival in West Bengal, it is also celebrated by the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. This year, however, celebratory activities may be subject to new regulations.
The interim government has instructed Hindu puja committees to “pause” activities such as playing music five minutes before azaan and during namaaz, as reported by the Times of India. This directive is part of the administration’s broader approach to managing communal tensions amid political instability.
Bangladesh has seen increasing religious persecution against Hindus following the political turmoil and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Despite reports of attacks and the heightened alert among minority rights groups, the interim government has downplayed these incidents. Chief Adviser Yunus recently described the situation as “exaggerated”.
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Restrictions on Durga Puja Festivities
On Tuesday, Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Adviser, announced that puja committees must halt the use of musical instruments and sound systems during namaaz and azaan. “Such activities need to cease during offering namaaz, and the pause will have to be followed from five minutes prior to azaan,” Chowdhury stated. He added that the committees have agreed to comply with these restrictions.
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Durga Puja Celebrations Amid Tensions
Despite the new regulations, the celebrations for Durga Puja are set to continue. The number of puja mandaps across Bangladesh is expected to increase, with a total of 32,666 planned this year. “We’ve discussed how to ensure round-the-clock security at puja mandaps,” Chowdhury noted.
In response to concerns about potential unrest, the interim government has warned that any disruptions or harassment at worship sites will be met with strict legal action. “If anyone disrupts or harasses people at worship halls, we will not spare them. We will bring them under the law and ensure peace,” said Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. AFM Khalid Hossain during a visit to Prematli Gaurang Bari Kalimandir in Godagari, Rajshahi district.
