Newly appointed Superintendent of Police (SP) of Narayanganj, Mohammad Jasim Uddin, said that a four-tier security arrangement will be in place during Durga Puja. Plainclothes police will also be deployed. A control room will remain open around the clock.
The control room numbers will be given to every temple committee. They will stay in constant communication with us. “With everyone’s cooperation, we hope to ensure a peaceful and joyous Durga Puja for the Hindu community,” he said while inspecting several Puja Mandaps under Narayanganj City Corporation headquarters on Saturday (September 13) from afternoon till late night.
He further added that a total of 222 Puja Mandaps in Narayanganj district will celebrate Durga Puja simultaneously. “We came to see the preparations. All the temples are well-prepared. Our objective is to ensure that the celebrations go smoothly. We are working so that everything ends well with everyone’s cooperation. We are also receiving support from the temple committees and Puja celebration committees.”
On site, it was seen that he visited Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Amlapara Mandir, Nitaiganj Mandir, Deobhog Mandir, Nandipara Mandir, and the No. 5 Ghat immersion site. During the inspection, he instructed the temple and Puja celebration committees on ensuring smooth and disciplined celebrations.
Additional SPs Tasmin Akter, PPM, Tarek Al Mehdi, and Israt Jahan, PPM, along with Narayanganj Sadar Thana OC Mohammad Nasir Ahmad, TI (Administration) Md. Abdul Karim Sheikh, district Puja celebration committee leaders, various temple priests, and worshippers were present at the time.
Meanwhile, the festive spirit of Sharadiya Durga Puja has spread throughout Narayanganj district. On Mahalaya morning, the familiar chants of “Jago Durga” will resonate this year at the historic Baldeb Jiu Akhra in Nitaiganj. The Puja schedule has already been finalized: Mahalaya on September 21, Shashthi on September 26, and Dashami on September 31.
According to the district Puja celebration committee, this year 223 Mandaps will host community Durga Puja in Narayanganj. Last year, Puja was celebrated peacefully in 213 Mandaps. Organizers said preparations are underway to maintain the same peaceful environment this year.
The centuries-old Baldeb Jiu Akhra in old Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj is not just a sacred space for the Hindu community but also a symbol of communal harmony. It is said that in the 19th century, local businessmen began patronizing this Akhra. Since then, special Puja, music, and cultural programs have been organized here during Mahalaya and Durga Puja.
A caretaker of the Akhra said, “Every year during Mahalaya, we offer a special invocation to the Goddess. With the sound of drums, conch shells, and chanting of Chandi, Nitaiganj wakes up at dawn. This Akhra is the heart of Narayanganj’s Durga festival.”
Although Narayanganj is known as a city of industry and trade, religious festivals here are always celebrated in unity. In this Muslim-majority district, Muslim families also join in the festivities. Omar Faruq, a resident of Fatullah, said, “In our neighborhood, Hindus and Muslims celebrate Puja together. We also join when idols are brought in, and many take part in the immersion. It has become a part of our culture.”
From Laxmi Narayan Akhra in Narayanganj town to Shitalakshya Ghat, Kalirbazar, Chashara, Fatullah, Araihazar, and Sonargaon—idol-making is in full swing. With bamboo, hay, clay, and paint, artisans are shaping the idols of Goddess Durga. Sculptors from Kumorpatti are working day and night to prepare them.
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