RAB Director General (DG) AKM Shahidur Rahman has claimed that some mentally ill people are secretly trying to create chaos, as he acknowledges 14-15 incidents of attacks on Durga Puja venues in different parts of the country.
While visiting the Central Durga Temple in Dinajpur on Wednesday, he stated that law enforcement agencies have taken immediate action. If there are round-the-clock security and adequate lighting at every temple, these cowards will not get a chance.
He said: โThey are trying to create instability by spreading false rumours on social media. We are alert about this. We do not think that people from any political party are involved in such misdeeds. There is a type of person who does not want peace in the country; they engage in such activities. Patrol teams will be strengthened at every puja temple to maintain law and order.โ
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Security experts and political observers, however, warned of planned attacks in Bangladesh and India during the festival.
Recently, shrines and khanqahs have been attacked in Cumilla, Mymensingh, Rajbari and Dinajpur, and Durga idols have been vandalised in different districts.
The Bangladesh Awami League has expressed deep concern over the attacks on people of all faiths and beliefs by the state-sponsored mobs.
โNo one is able to live according to their own ideology. Under the direct patronage of these illegitimate occupiers, a new form of mob terror has been unleashed in Bangladesh. As a result, these mobs do not hesitate to attack any individual or community outside their own faith and ideology. Shrines, mosques, temples, and other religious institutions have not been spared from their assaults,โ the party said in a statement on Monday.
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The RAB DG said: “This year, the autumn Durga Puja will be celebrated in about 31,526 temples across the country. We, the law enforcement agencies, are working with utmost vigilance so that the festival is completed beautifully and smoothly. Bangladesh Police, Ansar, BGB, Coast Guard, and RAB are all working together to make the celebration of the puja peaceful.”
He said: “The puja formalities will begin on September 28 with Shubh Sashti and will end with immersion on October 2. Round-the-clock security has been maintained at each puja mandap and adequate lighting has been ensured.”
The RAB chief said: “In our country, the Durga Puja of the Hindu community, Eid of Muslims and the big day of Christians are always celebrated in a festive atmosphere. We are hopeful that this continuity will continue this time too.”
Earlier, the RAB Director General visited the Kaliakantjiu Temple and Durga Temple in Dinajpur Rajbari and made an overall inquiry. RAB-13 commander Lt. Col. Manjur Karim was present at the time.
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