The Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote has put forward four demands, including a three-day public holiday for Durga Puja.
The demands were raised during a roundtable discussion on the security and concerns of the Hindu community ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja, held at the National Press Club on Friday (September 19).
In a written statement at the roundtable, Palash Kanti Dey, spokesperson of the organisation, said the country’s largest religious festival for the Hindu community is set to begin on September 28. The main three days of Durga Puja—Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami—keep devotees engaged day and night with religious rituals to ensure the festival is carried out successfully.
He noted that the Hindu community faces various forms of discrimination during Durga Puja. Although the festival lasts five days, there are currently only two days of government holiday, previously just one. “We are requesting the Chief Adviser that from this year onwards, the government declare a three-day public holiday for Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami of Durga Puja,” he said.
Highlighting security concerns, he added, “We are apprehensive about the 2025 Sharadiya Durga Puja. There is a risk of attacks on temples across the country before, during, and after the festival. We urge the authorities to strengthen security nationwide.”
The roundtable was attended by Aslam Chowdhury, adviser to the BNP Chairperson; Subrata Chowdhury, acting president of the Gono Forum; Basudeb Dhar, president of Bangladesh Puja Udyapan Parishad; Monindra Kumar Debnath, acting general secretary of the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council; Shyamal Kumar Roy, president of Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jote; among others.
The Hindu Mahajote demanded that the government declare a three-day public holiday for Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami of Durga Puja, strengthen security at all permanent and temporary temples—including installing CCTV cameras at government expense—from 10 days before the Puja until the festival ends, deploy army patrols during Durga Puja as done last year, and establish a central monitoring cell to ensure heightened security throughout the festival.