PM to visit Durga Puja venues in three districts

DHAKA: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to visit Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram on Tuesday to inspect Durga Puja venues and exchange greetings with worshippers and members of the Hindu community during the Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations.

The prime minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atiqur Rahman Rumon, disclosed the schedule on Monday.

“The prime minister will visit Puja venues in three districts. He will go to Rangpur first in the morning, followed by Rajshahi and Chattogram,” he said.

Rumon said this would be the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a head of government had visited Durga Puja venues outside Dhaka during the Hindu community’s largest religious festival.

During the visits, Tarique Rahman will exchange greetings with worshippers and members of the Hindu community and enquire about their well-being, he added.

The prime minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Tuesday night after visiting the Puja venues in Chattogram.

Tarique Rahman will depart from Tejgaon Airport at 9:00am on a military aircraft for the three districts.

On Monday night, the prime minister visited several Durga Puja venues in the capital’s Mohakhali and Banani areas. His wife, Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him.

Tuesday marks Maha Navami, the ninth day of Sharadiya Durga Puja. The festival will conclude on Wednesday with Bijoya Dashami, when idols of Goddess Durga will be immersed in water.