Bangladesh will deploy paramilitary Ansar Bahini during the upcoming Durga puja celebrations in all puja pandals across the country, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday. The decision was taken following a meeting between leaders of the minority Hindu community and officials of the Government of Bangladesh here.
Mr. Khan announced at a press conference that Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindus of Bangladesh, would be held in a total of 32,168 puja pandals across the country. Deployment of the Ansar Bahini and government-sanctioned volunteers would be ensured to avert a repeat of the communal attacks that were witnessed in 2021 when a large number of puja pandals in Comilla, Chittagong and other places were destroyed in mob attacks following suspicious reports of sacrilege.
