Rangpur, Oct 13 (V7N) – Administrator of Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) Advocate Mahfuz Un Nabi Don has said all necessary support will be provided to ensure the Sharodiya Durga Puja celebration in an uninterrupted, safe and festive atmosphere.

"All citizens have the right to observe their own religious rituals. The state will take measures to ensure that everyone in Bangladesh—a nation of communal harmony—can observe their respective religious festivals without hindrance," he said at a meeting held at his conference room with representatives from the Rangpur Metropolitan Durga Puja Mandap committees, district and metropolitan Durga Puja festival committees, and the Metropolitan committee of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad on Tuesday afternoon.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of RpCC Rakib Hasan, District Sharodiya Durga Puja Celebration Committee Convener Dr Likilendra Shankar Guha Roy, Joint Conveners Bikash Roy and Sunil Roy, Member-secretary Biplob Roy, Acting President of Rangpur Metropolitan Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Pipas Roy, General Secretary Advocate Prashanta Kumar Roy and Assistant General Secretary Dilip Kumar Ghosh were present. Officials from NESCO, as well as the electricity and cleaning departments of RpCC, were also present.

The RpCC Administrator said that the City Corporation would provide maximum support within its capacity to make the Durga Puja celebration at all 164 Puja pandals in the city inclusive and festive. Initiatives will be taken to address issues regarding lighting, cleanliness, or other concerns at the various Puja Mandaps and idol immersion sites across the city.

Regarding the cleanliness of the immersion site and water purification, the RpCC Administrator noted that the condition of the pond used for idol immersion in the city's Mulatol area had come to his attention. "Since many people will enter the water during the idol immersion, measures will be taken to treat the water and to scatter bleaching powder in the surrounding area before filling the pond, ensuring that bathing in the water poses no health risks," he said.

Regarding grants for Puja pandals, the RpCC Administrator mentioned that a grant of Taka 14,000 was provided to each pandal last year. "This year, considering the City Corporation's financial capacity, the grant amount has been increased by Taka 1,000, bringing the total to Taka 15,000 per pandal," he said.

Regarding security for Durga Puja celebrations, he urged the concerned parties to arrange for the installation of CCTV cameras at every Puja pandal. Additionally, he advised contacting the relevant officials should any issues arise concerning electricity, roads, cleanliness, or other civic services during the festival.

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