Bangladesh is celebrating Durga Puja under extensive security arrangements, as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir greeted Hindus at home and abroad, stressing communal harmony and equal rights for people of all faiths.

Mr. Rahman on Friday (October 16, 2026) urged the Hindu community to celebrate the festival with joy, confidence and without fear, while Mr. Alamgir reiterated the government’s commitment to religious freedom and equal rights, the state-run BSS news agency reported.

Durga Puja is the largest annual festival of Bangladesh’s minority Hindu community and is celebrated at thousands of temporary and permanent venues across the country.

A total of 33,851 puja mandaps have been set up across Bangladesh this year, including 258 in the capital city Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. The number has increased by nearly 1,500 from last year, according to BSS.

Bangladesh has put in place extensive security arrangements at the venues, including round-the-clock surveillance, uniformed and plainclothes police personnel and specialised units such as SWAT, quick response and bomb disposal teams.

Monitoring cells are operating at police headquarters and other police units to oversee the security situation and respond to incidents.

Special Response Battalion-2 has also announced enhanced intelligence surveillance, patrols, checkpoints and a 24-hour control room and hotline.

Two helicopters and drones are to be deployed during idol immersion, while a mobile application has been introduced to help people report incidents at puja venues directly to law enforcement agencies.

Religion belongs to individuals, while the state belongs to all: PM Rahman

In his message on Friday (October 16, 2026), Prime Minister Rahman said the celebration of religious festivals reflected Bangladesh’s longstanding religious and social values and cultural traditions. He said friendship, goodwill and fraternity among different communities were demonstrated through religious, cultural and social activities, BSS reported.

“Religion belongs to individuals, while the state belongs to all. Everyone has the right to security, regardless of religion,” Mr. Rahman was quoted as saying by the news agency.

He said the government was committed to building a welfare-oriented, safe and humane country for all citizens, irrespective of their political opinions, religion or ethnicity.

Mr. Rahman is also scheduled to visit a Durga Puja venue in Chattogram on Tuesday (October 20, 2026), BSS reported.

Durga Puja 2026: All set for the beat of the dhak

President calls on authorities to ensure religious communities can celebrate freely

In his message, President Alamgir on Friday (October 16, 2026) said Durga Puja was deeply intertwined with Bengal’s social culture and heritage, beyond its significance as a religious festival. He expressed hope that the celebration would strengthen bonds among people of different faiths, BSS reported.

Mr. Alamgir said the government was supporting the management, renovation and development of Hindu religious institutions and places of worship, as it did for other religions, according to the report.

“Every religion teaches people truth, justice, restraint and the welfare of humanity. It keeps people away from injustice and falsehood and shows them the path to emancipation,” the president said.

Mr. Alamgir called on authorities to ensure that all religious communities could observe their festivals freely and without discrimination, deprivation or insecurity because of religion, caste or communal identity.

Hindus account for about 8%, or nearly 13 million, of Bangladesh’s population of around 170 million, based on the 2022 census.

The Bangladesh government extended the Durga Puja holiday to three days this year through an executive order in response to longstanding demands from the Hindu community. Combined with the regular Friday and Saturday weekend, the extended holiday will provide a five-day break from October 16 to 20.

The government has also increased the allocation for Durga Puja mandaps to Tk 5 crore (₹3.86 crore) from Tk 4 crore and raised the rice allocation per mandap to 600 kg from 500 kg, BSS reported.

Published – October 17, 2026 03:12 pm IST

Ireland Embassy in New Delhi has announced a cultural collaboration for Kolkata’s iconic Durga Puja festival to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Irish and Indian artists are working together to create a spectacular pandal to honour the Hindu goddess Durga and the Celtic goddess Danu.

This collaboration brings together Macnas, a celebrated Irish arts collective from Galway, and Kolkata’s renowned Behala Nutan Dal, a cultural organisation famous for its innovative Durga Puja celebrations.

“Ireland and India share a strong and growing partnership that transcends diplomatic relations,” said Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly, in a press release. “Our peoples are connected through education, culture and shared values. As we mark 75 years of friendship, we are committed to strengthening these ties further, especially as bath nations explore new opportunities in trade, technology and culture.”

The centrepiece of the pandal will feature a large installation representing the Irish goddess Danu, designed by Macnas artists Johnny O’Reilly, Lisa Sweeney and Richard Babbington, working closely with Indian lead artist Sanjib Saha.

“We have come here to Kolkata to collaborate with Behala Nutan Dal on creating their pandal for the Durga Puja,” Macnas artists shared in a video shared by the embassy. “Our aim is to help develop creations of the pandals to mix Macnas identity and traditional Indian aesthetics to try and create a sort of artistic approach.”

The pandal’s design will incorporate Irish festival motifs, including elements from Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc and Lughnasadh, alongside Indian artistic elements.

Listen in as Johnny O’Reilly and Richard Babbington from @Macnas dive into the collaboration with Behala Nutan Dal and artist Sanjib Saha for Kolkata Durga Puja 2024 to celebrate 75 years of Ireland-India diplomatic relations ????????????????#IrelandIndia75pic.twitter.com/kg1PpDhmAy

— Irish Embassy India (@IrlEmbIndia) September 26, 2024

This partnership is part of broader celebrations commemorating the growing ties between Ireland and India. From trade to education and now culture, the relationship between the two nations continues to flourish. Over the past decade, the number of Indian students in Ireland has grown tenfold, and Irish businesses are increasingly looking to India’s dynamic market for new opportunities.

The Durga Puja pandal at Behala Nutan Dal promises to be a significant cultural exchange. As Ambassador Kelly noted, “Durga Puja is one of the most awe-inspiring festivals I have ever witnessed. We are thrilled to see Irish and Indian artists come together in celebration.”