Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui has said that Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated peacefully across the country under strict security arrangements.

The BGB chief made the remarks on Wednesday while visiting Dhakeshwari and Ramna Kali Mandirs in Dhaka.

He said that BGB, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, has been working to ensure a safe and harmonious environment for Puja celebrations nationwide.

“BGB is providing security at over 2,000 puja mandaps located in border areas, along with key mandaps in Dhaka and other major cities,” he said.

“With just one day remaining, I firmly believe that this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja will conclude peacefully through the combined efforts of all.”

To prevent any untoward incidents, BGB has ramped up intelligence surveillance and special patrols in border regions, while maintaining close coordination with local administrations and other security forces.

During his visit, Major General Siddiqui exchanged greetings with Hindu devotees and held discussions with leaders of Durga Puja Celebration Committees of both temples.

He was accompanied by senior BGB officials, including Additional Director General (Operations and Training) and Dhaka Sector Commander.

Since the start of the deployment on September 24, a total of 430 BGB platoons have been mobilized and 24 base camps established in Dhaka and across various border districts to safeguard 2,870 puja mandaps across the country.

Of these, 1,417 mandaps are situated in border areas; including 15 in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, while 1,453 are located in non-border zones.

Among the latter, 441 mandaps are in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur city corporations; 694 in Chattogram city, Raozan and Rangunia; and 318 in other regions.