Chattogram, Oct 15 (V7N) – Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) today provided Taka 14.7 lakh to cover generator fuel costs at Puja mandaps, in response to a request from the City Puja Udjapan Parishad.

The grant allocates Taka 5,000 to each of the 294 Puja mandaps (pavilions) across 16 police stations in the city. In addition, Taka 5 lakh was given to the JM Sen Hall Puja Mandap, Taka 15 lakh to the Kusumkumari Puja Mandap in Jamalkhan under the CCC Puja Celebration Council, and Taka 2 lakh in total to the four "Harijan" (Dalit/sweeper community) colonies within the City Corporation, at Taka 50,000 each. In all, financial grants worth Taka 36.7 lakh were distributed.

Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain shared these details on Thursday morning at the Theatre Institute Chittagong (TIC) auditorium, at a ceremony where the City Corporation handed over aid cheques for the Sharadiya Durga Puja.

The Mayor said the City Corporation is working to build a safe, clean, green and livable city for people of all faiths. "Chittagong belongs to everyone," he said. "It is our responsibility to ensure the safety, religious freedom and civil rights of every citizen, regardless of religion or background. To build a beautiful city, everyone must play a responsible role from their respective positions. Transforming this into a clean, green, healthy and safe city requires not only the initiatives of the City Corporation but also the active participation of its residents," he added.

Dr Shahadat said religious festivals strengthen the bonds of harmony, goodwill and mutual cooperation among people. Terming Chattogram a city of communal harmony, he said we must ensure that people of all religions can celebrate their festivals safely and without hindrance. "While religious identities are personal, the city belongs to everyone. Therefore, we must all work together for the development, security and well-being of the city," he said.

Professor Arpan Banerjee, President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council), and Advocate Nikhil Kumar Nath, General Secretary of its Chattogram city unit, among others, were present at the function. Other Parishad leaders from various police stations across the city also attended the function.

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