Rajshahi, Oct 12 (V7N) – Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has provided Tk 17 lakh in financial assistance to 85 Durga Puja mandaps in Rajshahi city ahead of Sharadiya Durga Puja 2026.
Each mandap received Tk 20,000. RCC Administrator Md Mahfuzur Rahman Riton formally handed over the grant cheques to representatives of the mandaps at a meeting held at the City Hall conference room in the Nagar Bhaban on Sunday morning.
The meeting brought together leaders of the Hindu community, the metropolitan Puja celebration committee and presidents and general secretaries of various Puja mandaps to discuss preparations for the festival.
Speaking as the chief guest, Riton said the shared goal was to ensure that Durga Puja was celebrated in a peaceful, safe and orderly environment.
“Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued appropriate instructions to ensure the highest level of security during Durga Puja. Relevant departments and agencies have taken necessary measures accordingly. Rajshahi City Corporation is providing all possible support to ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully and without disruption,” he said.
He added that the city corporation wanted to develop Rajshahi not only as a green and clean city but also as a drug-free, crime-free and safe urban area, calling for cooperation from residents to achieve the goal.
When Puja mandap representatives requested Wi-Fi facilities, the RCC administrator immediately instructed the relevant officials to take the necessary steps to provide internet connections at each mandap.
Deputy Director of the Local Government Division at the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner’s Office Nazrul Islam and Additional Police Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Faruk Hossain also spoke at the meeting. RCC Secretary Sohel Rana moderated the discussion.
The meeting discussed a range of security and logistical measures for the festival. These included deploying police and Ansar personnel, forming volunteer teams at each mandap, ensuring uninterrupted electricity at all 85 venues, improving lighting at mandaps and immersion sites, repairing and cleaning nearby roads, installing CCTV cameras and arranging fire safety equipment.
Participants also discussed deploying Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel with diving teams at immersion sites, strengthening traffic management and ensuring necessary facilities for the immersion of idols.
RCC officials said the corporation would coordinate necessary arrangements at immersion sites and provide support to help ensure the celebrations proceeded safely.
The meeting was attended by RCC Chief Executive Officer Rezaul Karim, Chief Conservancy Officer Sheikh Md Mamun, Supervising Engineer Khairul Baker, Chief Health Officer Dr FAM Anjuman Ara Begum and other officials, along with Hindu community leaders and representatives of the Puja mandaps.
The financial assistance is intended to support the organisation of Durga Puja celebrations across Rajshahi city, while the authorities are coordinating security and public services to facilitate the festival.
END/MRA/SMA/
