Preparations Underway for Durga Puja in Fatikchhari, Call for Communal Harmony at Mahalaya Event

Extensive preparations are underway for the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari) lawmaker Sarwar Alamgir has called on people of all faiths to maintain communal harmony at an event marking Mahalaya, which heralds the beginning of the Durga Puja festivities.

The event was jointly organised by the Fatikchhari Upazila and Pourashava branches of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad at the Fatikchhari Upazila Central Durga Temple on Saturday morning, October 10. A large number of members of the Hindu community attended the programme.

Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, lawmaker Sarwar Alamgir said, “Everyone in Fatikchhari will be able to practise their respective religions.” He called for harmony and mutual goodwill among people of all faiths. Members of the Hindu community welcomed the beginning of Devipaksha through religious rituals.

Among others, Fatikchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Saeed Mohammad Ibrahim, Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Robiul Alam Khan, senior leaders of the upazila BNP and representatives of different levels of the Puja Udjapan Parishad also spoke at the event.

Ratankanti Chowdhury, president of the upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad, and General Secretary Dhananjay Debnath told CTG Bangla News 24 that extensive preparations had been made to ensure the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja. Members of law enforcement agencies, along with volunteers, will be deployed at every puja mandap to maintain security.

According to the parishad, Durga Puja will be organised at 74 mandaps in Fatikchhari this year. Of these, 52 are permanent and 26 are temporary mandaps. In addition, seven mandaps in Suabil Union under Bhujpur Police Station will celebrate the festival in coordination with the upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad.

The five-day Sharadiya Durga Puja festivities are scheduled to begin on October 16. The celebrations will conclude with the immersion of idols on the afternoon of October 21.

Local members of the Hindu community hope that the religious festival will be celebrated in an atmosphere of harmony, goodwill and mutual cooperation. They also expect to observe Durga Puja peacefully and without disruption.