Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka for Rangpur on Tuesday morning to visit Durga Puja mandaps outside the capital on Maha Navami, the ninth day of the Hindu community’s Sharadiya festival. He departed from Tejgaon Airport at 9am aboard a military aircraft, according to Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly.
“The prime minister has left for Rangpur. He will visit the puja mandap at Radha Gobinda Temple and exchange greetings with devotees there,” Shibly told UNB. Tarique was scheduled to visit mandaps in Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Chittagong districts before returning to Dhaka at night.
The press secretary highlighted that the government implemented comprehensive security measures across the country to ensure smooth festival celebrations. “The government’s policy is that religion belongs to each individual, but everyone has the right to security. The allocation has been increased, holidays have been extended, and all kinds of support are being provided to puja mandaps,” he stated.
A delegation of senior BNP leaders and government officials accompanied the prime minister on the tour. The entourage included BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof AZM Zahid Hussain, BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, and State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam.
Additional members of the delegation comprised Prime’s Minister Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarkar, BNP Special Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Vice-Chairman and MP Nipun Roy Chowdhury, BNP Assistant Organising Secretary Jayanta Kumar Kundu, Press Secretary Saleh Shibly, and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
According to the official itinerary, Tarique arrived at Saidpur Airport at 10am and traveled to Rangpur’s Radha Gobinda Temple. He then departed for Rajshahi, visiting the Dharmasabha Temple’s puja mandap at 1:15pm, followed by a brief stop at the Rajshahi Circuit House and a public rally at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School ground.
Concluding his regional tour, the prime minister flew to Chittagong to visit the JM Sen Hall puja mandap in Rahmatganj at 5:30pm. Following a brief stop at the Chittagong Circuit House, he departed from Shah Amanat International Airport for Dhaka, landing at Tejgaon Airport at 9:15pm.
Why it matters
The prime minister's regional tour underscores state support for religious festivities and communal harmony during a major national celebration.