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Published : 19 Oct 2015, 01:34 AM
The biggest religious festival of Hindus in Bangladesh will end with the immersion of the idols on Oct 23.
Generally, a day after Maha Nabami, Bijoya Dashami is celebrated to mark the end of Durga Puja and immersion is done on the same day.
But as both Nabami and Dashami fell on the same day this year as per the almanac, immersion will be done on Friday.
On the other hand, mainly Shia Muslim devotees will observe the Ashura that day in Dhaka and across the country by taking out Tajia processions, performing self-flagellation and other programmes.
Ashura, the tenth day of the first month, Muharram, of the Arabic calendar is observed as a day of mourning for Hussein Ibn Ali, the second grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
DMP Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia at a media call on Sunday said, “Police will make sure that the Hindus celebrate their festival peacefully and Muslims say their prayers and observe their programmes (for Ashura) on Friday without any problem.”
He said there had been no specific terror threats related to Durga Puja. “But police will remain alert.”
He said in consultation with Durga Puja organising committee they set 2pm-6pm on Oct 23 for the immersion of idols.
Muslims would be able to take out their Tajia processions and other activities from 7pm until next day morning.
He urged the Hindus not to take out procession between 12:30pm and 2pm to let the Muslims say their Jumma prayers at mosques across the city without any hassle.
Old Dhaka’s Wise Ghat and the BIWTA’s landing station at Ashulia are being prepped for the immersion of idols on Burhiganga River and Turag River, respectively.
Those who wished to immerse the idols at Wise Ghat would have to gather with the idols at Dhakeshwari National Temple before 10am, police said.
This year, Durga Puja would be held at 222 temples and pandals across Dhaka.
The police commissioner at Sunday’s briefing said the pandals would have separate gates for entry and exit while CCTV cameras would be installed for keeping a close eye on the situation.
He said teams of plainclothesmen would be deployed along with SWAT and bomb squads to ensure foolproof security to devotees of both religions during their festivities and programmes.
Asaduzzaman Mia said more than 6,000 police personnel would be deployed in Dhaka during the immersion of idols and over 2,000 during the Ashura programmes.
He said they would take stern measures against anyone if found indulging in any illegal or antisocial activities.
Responding to a question, Mia said police were alert to provide adequate security to the foreigners.
He said the fresh travel alert issued by the US on Saturday for its citizens was a routine affair. “We’ll take everything into account.”
