The government of Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the Hindu community and upholding the rights of all citizens for the duration of the festival, with Durga Puja scheduled in the country between October 16-21 this year. Minister for Religious Affairs Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad directly stated in parliament about the commitment, reiterating state support for temple welfare and the safety of worshippers during the country’s biggest Hindu festival.
Government Promise In Parliament
In parliament, Kaikobad said all citizens of Bangladesh should have equal rights irrespective of religion and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equal treatment across religious communities. He was responding to a question from ruling party lawmaker Subarna Sikder about financial constraints facing the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust, which she said hamper the trust’s ability to expand its work.
The trust has about Tk 100 crore in fixed deposits now, the income from which is used for the maintenance of temples across the country, said Kaikobad. His ministry is still providing annual grants for extensive temple renovations and the building of cremation grounds, he said. “The state policy is based on equitable dignity and resource distribution across all faiths,” he said.
Why Security Is Always An Issue
Durga Puja in past years has been marred by isolated incidents of vandalism, attacks on temples and communal tension in parts of the country, which has led to heightened security responses to each festival season. Bangladesh’s Hindu community represents some 8 per cent of the population, and minority rights groups have from time to time expressed concern about harassment and violence during major religious observances.
In response, authorities have typically set up a large security presence throughout the festival every year. In past years, arrangements have included deployment of police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion and Ansar and Village Defence Party personnel at puja mandaps across the country, and control rooms to coordinate the response, as well as volunteers to assist law enforcers at individual venues. Standard advisories issued ahead of the festival have also asked for measures such as CCTV cover at mandaps, separate entry and exit points for men and women, restrictions on bags being carried into venues and adequate lighting both at mandaps and idol immersion sites.
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What This Year’s Preparations Mean
Although specific numbers on security deployment for the festival in 2026 were not available at the time of the minister’s comments in parliament, the government’s early emphasis on both temple funding and public reassurance suggests preparations are already well underway well in advance of the mid-October start for the festival. In recent times, authorities have been looking for ways to address both the immediate safety of worshippers and the long-term maintenance of religious institutions, and providing financial support for temples along with public promises of security has become routine.
Looking Forward to the Festival
Durga Puja is Bangladesh’s biggest religious festival, with worship at thousands of mandaps and temples across the country, family gatherings and public celebrations every year. More information about the security deployment, control room arrangements and any other measures for this year is expected to be provided by the Home Affairs Ministry and Bangladesh Police in the coming weeks before the festival begins, with the October dates looming.
