KHULNA, Sept 24, 2024(BSS) - The forthcoming Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, will be celebrated amid festivity everywhere in the city and all nine upazilas of Khulna.

All necessary preparations were taken so that the puja is celebrated with enthusiasm and festivity like the previous years.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Magistrate of Khulna Mohammad Saiful Islam revealed this while addressing a view-exchange meeting with all stakeholders including law enforcement agencies and leaders of Puja Udjapon Parishad at the DC’s conference room here today.

He assured the leaders of Puja Udjapon Parishad that Durga Puja will be celebrated amid festivity like previous years, adding, everybody should cooperate for ensuring communal harmony in the society.

He said Ansar-VDP members will be deployed side by side with police to ensure security.  Bangladesh Army and RAB are also on the field at present. "We are prepared to face any challenges," he added.

He requested the law enforcement agencies including police administration to keep close coordination with the puja committees round the clock. He also gave instructions to the traffic division to enhance traffic management.

Law enforcement agencies also announced that they will extend all sorts of necessary support to each of the puja mandaps for peaceful celebration of the festival.

All necessary measures will be taken for successful immersion of the idols, they said.

Superintendent of Khulna District Police T M Mossarraf Hossain urged the puja committee leaders to set up closed circuit cameras in the important puja mandaps alongside metal detectors in the main entrances. There should be separate gates for male and females.

"We have to put in our level best efforts to ensure communal harmony for all faiths in each of the puja mandaps," he added.

The meeting was told that the Durga Puja will be celebrated in 925 Puja mandaps including 125 in the city and 801 in the district this year.

Leaders of city and district unit Puja Udjapon Parishad, additional deputy commissioners, representatives of Army, BGB, RAB, KMP, Coast Guard, Anser-VDP, Fire Service and Civil Defense, among others, also spoke.