40 eminent citizens, activists call for safe, unimpeded Durga Puja celebrations

Forty citizens and human rights activists in Bangladesh have issued a joint statement urging authorities to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, and legal action against those attempting to create communal unrest through intimidation and incitement.

“We know that Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, began with Mahalaya on 2 October this year. According to the government, the festival will be celebrated in 32,460 mandaps across the country.” reads the statement.

“Traditionally, the people of Bangladesh have lived together peacefully, regardless of their religion. Every religious community must have the right to observe its festivals freely and securely.”

The signatories expressed concern over recent years’ increasing tensions during Durga Puja, pointing to incidents where false accusations of religious disrespect led to violence and vandalism of puja venues.

They condemned efforts to incite violence by spreading fabricated stories on social media and attacking minority communities.

“In some areas, we’ve already received reports of idol desecration and attacks on temples. Additionally, a faction with anti-minority sentiments has published an unauthorised list of restrictions on Hindu worshippers, dictating what they can and cannot do during the puja. This is both illegal and immoral,” the statement added.

They urged the government to take firm action against those responsible for spreading unrest and inciting violence before any incidents escalate.

“We believe the government will fulfill its promise of ensuring peace during this festival. However, we demand that anyone involved in creating tensions or promoting violence be dealt with legally, and the masterminds behind these actions be identified and prosecuted,” the statement further added.

The signatories warned that the public would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt the country’s social harmony and called on citizens, regardless of political or religious affiliation, to remain vigilant and take united action against communal violence if necessary.

The signatories of the statement include:

1. Anu Muhammad, Professor, Jahangirnagar University

2. Sultana Kamal, Human Rights Activist

3. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director, TIB

4. Khushi Kabir, Coordinator, Nijera Kori

5. Adv ZI Khan Panna, Senior Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

6. Parveen Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Central Women’s University

7. Adv Subrata Chowdhury, Senior Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

8. Barrister Sara Hossain, Honorary Executive Director, BLAST

9. Giti Ara Nasreen, Professor, Dhaka University

10. Samina Lutfa, Professor, Dhaka University

11. Dr Sumaiya Khair, Professor, Dhaka University

12. Robaet Ferdous, Professor, Dhaka University

13. Dr Khairul Islam Chowdhury, Professor, Dhaka University

14. Zobaida Nasreen, Professor, Dhaka University

15. Tasneem Siraj Mahbub, Associate Professor, Dhaka University

16. Mirza Taslima Sultana, Professor, Jahangirnagar University

17. Adv Tabarak Hossain, Senior Lawyer

18. Dr Shahidul Alam, Photographer

19. Rehnuma Ahmed, Writer and Researcher

20. Nasreen Khondokar, Anthropologist and Human Rights Activist

21. Shamsul Huda, Executive Director, ALRD

22. Saeeda Gulrukh, Journalist

23. Dr Shahnaz Huda, Professor, Dhaka University

24. Adv Salma Ali, Executive Director, BNWLA

25. Adv Minhajul Haque Chowdhury, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

26. Rozina Begum, Researcher and Rights Activist

27. Maidul Islam, Associate Professor, Chittagong University

28. Dr Swapan Adnan, Visiting Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science

29. Manindra Kumar Nath, Joint General Secretary, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council

30. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director, Coast Trust

31. Nova Ahmed, Professor, North South University

32. Zakir Hossain, Chief Executive, Citizens Initiative

33. Adv Saidur Rahman, Chief Executive, MSF

34. Barrister Ashraf Ali, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

35. Barrister Shahadat Alam, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

36. Adv Nazmul Huda, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

37. Adv Md Azizullah Emon, Lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court

38. Dipayan Khisa, Human Rights Activist

39. Hana Shams Ahmed, Indigenous Rights Activist

40. Muktasree Chakma, Rights Activist and researcher