The Hindu community in Bangladesh has begun celebrating Durga Puja, the country’s largest annual religious festival, under heavy security deployment amid reports of fresh attacks on temples and a climate of political unrest.
Festivities under tight security
On Sunday, the sound of drums, conch shells, temple bells, and ululation filled Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka as devotees unveiled the face of Goddess Durga on Maha Shashthi, the formal start of the five-day festival.
Authorities announced that more than 200,000 security personnel—including police, Ansar, and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)—have been deployed nationwide. A police headquarters statement said forces were “committed to maintaining law and order and upholding interfaith harmony.”
Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (ret.) M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said “multi-layered” security arrangements had been put in place at 33,355 puja mandaps, or temporary pavilions, across the country. Elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) units and army personnel are also on standby in vulnerable districts.
Chowdhury cautioned that “accomplices of the ousted fascist regime” of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina might spread misinformation to stir unrest, urging the media to play a role in countering rumors.
Growing participation, rising concerns
Organizers reported that the number of mandaps this year has grown by nearly 1,900 compared to 2024, despite recurring threats. “We expect the puja this year to be celebrated in festivity. We are happy with the government for its assistance and the security arrangements,” Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council President Basudev Dhar said.
But Dhar also noted “minor incidents of obstructions” in at least 11 districts, where local authorities intervened and arrested suspects. Hindu leaders warned that temple attacks and vandalism, often fueled by social media rumors of alleged disrespect to Islam, remain a persistent threat.
Jayanta Kumar Deb, president of the Dhaka Metropolitan Puja Committee, told reporters, “Every year, attacks recur. Security cannot be ensured just for the five days of puja. If we truly want a discrimination-free Bangladesh, the guarantee must extend for all 365 days.”
Political backdrop and minority fears
The celebrations come against a turbulent political backdrop. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who assumed power as chief adviser of the interim government in August 2024 after Sheikh Hasina was ousted, visited Dhakeshwari Temple earlier this month, telling devotees that “the entire nation is one family.” Yet minority leaders accuse his government of sidelining them in recent months.
The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council has documented 2,442 incidents of communal violence between August 2024 and July 2025, including murders, rapes, arson, and forced evictions. Rights groups and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have echoed those concerns.
India has repeatedly expressed concern about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, urging Dhaka to guarantee protection.
Leadership messages and calls for unity
In exile in India, prime minister Sheikh Hasina issued a message marking Shardiya Navratri, condemning extremist violence and urging Bangladeshis to safeguard the country’s tradition of communal harmony.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also extended greetings to the Hindu community, highlighting Durga Puja’s symbolism of “the destruction of evil forces and the celebration of truth and beauty.”
Despite the political tensions, devotees thronged mandaps across Dhaka and other cities, dressed in new clothes and carrying offerings of flowers and sweets to the Goddess. The festival will continue until October 2, when immersion ceremonies take place.
Organizers say the government has assured “all necessary arrangements” for a peaceful festival, but community leaders stress that justice for past attacks is essential to ending the recurring cycle of fear. As one temple leader remarked: “Without accountability, celebrations may continue, but harmony will remain fragile.”
