Today is Bijoya Dashami, marking the conclusion of Durga Puja, one of the prime religious festivals of the Hindu community. The festival embodies the values of truth, justice, peace, harmony and human welfare. This year, Durga Puja was celebrated across the country in a largely peaceful, orderly and festive atmosphere, with the government providing financial assistance and other support to facilitate the celebrations.
The central message of Durga Puja is the triumph of truth and justice over evil. Its message of hope and joy transcends religious boundaries and carries universal significance.
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has described the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja in Bangladesh as a shining example of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. At a time when conflict, violence and hatred are widespread across the world, the ability of people of different faiths to celebrate their religious festivals peacefully is a testament to Bangladesh’s tradition of religious tolerance.
According to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Durga Puja was celebrated at 33,851 mandaps across the country this year, including 258 in Dhaka. The number increased by around 1,500 compared with last year. To ensure security, personnel from the police, Ansar and Village Defence Party, Special Response Battalion (SRB), Armed Police Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard were deployed. Special bus services, technological support and drone surveillance were also introduced.
Although incidents of disruption are reported almost every year, this year’s celebrations were largely peaceful. The Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Mahanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee, however, reported attacks, idol vandalism and temple thefts at 34 locations before the festival. According to police investigations and field-level verification, many incidents reportedly stemmed from internal leadership disputes, thefts, disagreements over the distribution of government allocations and vandalism by individuals with mental health problems. Investigators reportedly found no evidence in these cases of organised attempts to undermine communal harmony or prevent the Hindu community from celebrating the festival peacefully.
Nevertheless, such findings should not become grounds for complacency. The Durga Puja celebrations following the mass uprising of August 2024 took place amid political uncertainty and security concerns within the Hindu community. Although the authorities introduced extensive security measures, isolated incidents of idol vandalism, extortion demands and attempts to disrupt celebrations were reported in several areas. The widespread attacks and violence during Durga Puja in 2021 remain a blunt reminder of how quickly communal peace can be threatened.
The government and law enforcement agencies must therefore remain vigilant against any attempt to exploit religion or politics to incite hatred and division. Every allegation of violence, intimidation or vandalism must be investigated impartially, and those responsible must be brought to justice, regardless of their identity or political affiliation.
The enduring lesson of Durga Puja is that truth must prevail over falsehood, justice over injustice, and compassion over hatred. Upholding these values requires collective commitment, not merely ceremonial observance. Bangladesh has a long tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths, and preserving this legacy is a shared responsibility.
On the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja, Daily TIMES of Bangladesh extends its warm greetings to all.
