Police headquarters on Wednesday issued a set of security guidelines for organizers, visitors and others concerned to ensure safe, peaceful and festive celebrations of Sharadiya Durga Puja.
The police advised people not to spread rumors or share unverified information on social media, urging them to verify the authenticity of any information before liking, commenting on or sharing it.
Security at puja mandaps
To ensure security at puja mandaps, organizers have been advised to arrange separate entry and exit points for male and female visitors and discourage people from entering the mandaps with bags, sacks or bundles.
The police also recommended installing CCTV cameras and fire extinguishers at puja mandaps, setting up archway gates at important mandaps, and ensuring adequate lighting at the mandaps and idol immersion sites.
Where possible, organizers should also arrange standby generators or rechargeable lights.
Volunteers should be deployed to ensure security at puja mandaps. They should be provided with distinctive clothing, visible identity cards and armbands bearing the word ‘Volunteer’ so that they can be easily identified.
Maintain communal harmony
The police urged everyone to respect the religious sentiments of people belonging to other faiths and maintain communal harmony during the celebrations.
The use of sound systems should be restricted at puja mandaps near mosques during azan and prayers, as well as during idol immersion, the advisory said.
People were also advised to refrain from setting off fireworks and firecrackers during the celebrations.
Follow designated immersion routes
To ensure the normal movement of vehicles, the police asked organizers and participants to follow designated routes during idol immersion and complete the process at locations specified by the local administration.
Emergency contact numbers
The police have provided the following emergency contact numbers for assistance during the celebrations:
- Police Headquarters Control Room: 02223380661, 02223381967, 01320001299, 01320001300
- Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP): 02223355500, 01817602050
- Dhakeshwari Temple Central Control Room: 029611353, 01705505529
- SRB Control Room: 0177772009
- Fire Service Control Room: 02223355555, 01713038181, 01713038182, 01730336699
People can also call the national emergency service 999, which operates round the clock and is toll-free, to seek assistance from the police, ambulance services and fire service in an emergency.
For contact numbers of district police superintendents and officers-in-charge of police stations, the public has been advised to visit the Bangladesh Police website.