Organizers of Dhanmondi Puja Celebration Committee have alleged that the Dhaka South City Corporation authorities unlawfully barred them from holding the Durga Puja at Kalabagan playground this year.
They made the allegation from a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters’ unity (DRU) on Friday.
The organizers said that the ministry concerned had given them permission to conduct the Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindus, at the ground where they have been holding the Puja for the last 14 years.
The main festivity will begin on October 11.
They threatened to launch peaceful demonstrations across the country, hoist black flags at the pavilions and observe a mass fasting if the authorities did not allow them to conduct the Durga Puja.
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In a written statement, General Secretary of the organizing committee Somen Saha said that they had applied to the DSCC authorities seeking permission on August 26, but got no response.
Later they met with LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam on September 26 and secured permission in two days. “But the DSCC mayor’s office has yet to give the green signal,” he said.
On October 3, the home minister asked the Durga Puja organizing committees not to allow fairs or stalls near the pavilions this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Home Ministry also urged the committees to suspend all activities during the Adhan and prayers at mosques near the pavilions.
The government has planned to deploy police forces along with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar-VDP and community police.
