DMP Commissioner Mainul Hassan has said Durga Puja will be celebrated at 253 venues across Dhaka this year.
To ensure security, a three-tier protection system will be implemented at each venue, with additional forces deployed, the DMP chief said while speaking to the media after inspecting the Dhakeshwari Temple on Tuesday.
The army and RAB will also provide security and patrol the areas, he said.
"Durga Puja is a deeply revered religious festival for the Hindu community. The celebrations will take place from October 9 to 13, ending with Dashami. While Durga Puja is a Hindu festival, its joy is shared by people of all communities in Bangladesh."
Mainul added: "This year, 253 Puja venues have been established in the Dhaka metropolitan area, with 131 in the southern part and 122 in the northern part of the city. We have held several coordination meetings to ensure that Durga Puja can be celebrated peacefully in Dhaka and across the country."
He further elaborated: "Special security measures have been arranged for every Puja venue in Dhaka. This includes additional police deployment, patrols and checkpoints managed by the local police, and plainclothes detectives (DB) on duty.”
“High-capacity CCTV cameras and metal detectors will be installed, and the Puja committees will deploy their own volunteers and Ansar members. The army and RAB will also contribute to the security arrangements," he added.
Regarding traffic management during the Puja celebrations, the DMP commissioner mentioned: "Necessary traffic arrangements have been made to maintain normal vehicular movement. However, due to narrow roads in certain areas, especially in Old Dhaka, some traffic congestion might occur. We have discussed with Puja committees to prevent fairs from being set up around those venues.”
Additionally, it was announced that 15 locations have been designated in Dhaka for idol immersions on October 13.
