Bangladesh
Hindu Mahajot Hindu Mahajot demands 3-day holiday in Durga Puja
Dhaka, Sept 30: The Bangladesh National Hindu Mohajot has made a four-point demand, including the announcement of a three-day holiday on the occasion of the biggest religious festival of the Hindus - Durga Puja.
The organization says that along with strengthening overall security measures in permanent and temporary temples, a three-day public holiday should be declared during Durga Puja. Besides, speedy implementation of minority commission and digital security law should be applied equally for all.
This demand was made in a press conference at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club on Friday.
Prabhas Chandra Roy, president of the organization, said in a written statement at the conference that the autumn Durga Puja will begin on October 20. Yes. But Durga Puja is only a one-day official holiday. As a result, many of the Hindu community cannot celebrate the joy by being present from the beginning to the end of the puja.
He said that despite sending a memorandum to the Prime Minister, no response was received, he said that the past experience of the Hindu community with these two issues, Durga Puja and elections, is not at all pleasant. Because Hindu communities and their establishments have been attacked before and after the puja and elections.
In 2021, before and especially after Durga Puja, idols were vandalized and Hindu communities attacked in various parts of the country. We want this year's puja to strengthen security during the puja with the provision of CCTV cameras at government expense in every permanent and temporary temple and mandap.
The four demands of the alliance are --
1. A three-day public holiday (Ashtami, Navami and Dashami) should be declared on Durga Puja.
2. Security should be strengthened in every temple from 10 days before the puja, including installation of CC cameras at government expense in every permanent and temporary puja pandals.
3. Minority Protection Act and Minority Commission should be constituted and implemented speedily.
4. Digital security laws should apply equally to everyone.
Jatiya Hindu Mahajot president Prabhas Chandra Roy presided over the press conference and vice president Ranjit Kumar Mridha, Tapan Howladar, organizing secretary Ashish Barai, Sanjay Kumar Saha and others were also present in the press conference.
