The interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has requested the Hindu community to temporarily pause Durga Puja activities, particularly the playing of music, during the times of Azaan and Namaz. This directive aims to ensure religious harmony and mutual respect between the communities during their respective religious practices.

Home Affairs Advisor, Lt. Gen. (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, announced that puja committees have been instructed to turn off musical instruments and sound systems during the specified times of azaan and namaz. The committees have agreed to comply with this directive to maintain religious harmony.

“Such activities need to cease during offering namaz, and the pause will have to be followed from five minutes prior to azaan,” Chowdhury was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

The announcement followed a meeting on the law and order situation ahead of Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. Amid rising concerns over attacks on Hindus, Lt. Gen. (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury assured heightened security around puja mandaps. He also noted that 32,666 puja mandaps will be erected across the country this year, a slight decrease from the 33,431 mandaps last year.

“Measures will be taken to facilitate celebration of puja without any hindrance and prevent the evil activities of miscreants,” the Lt Gen was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune.

Yunus also emphasised communal harmony and said, “No one shall do any act that destroys religious harmony. No one should take the law into their own hands.”

Image source: News18