No crackers during Puja

The government has banned the use of firecrackers during the festivities of Durga Puja.

Besides, the immersion of Durga's idol has been limited within the timeframe of 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan made the announcement after a meeting over the arrangement of law and order during the Puja festivities yesterday at the home ministry.

One of the biggest religious festivals of the Hindus, Durga Puja starts next week.

This time also, fairs and stalls outside the mandaps (worship pavilions) will be disallowed, the minister said in a briefing after the meeting held with the Puja arrangement committee leaders.

According to the statistics he provided, this year 30,077 mandaps will be built across the country which is 777 more than last year. In Dhaka city, the Puja will be hosted in 231 mandaps.

Law enforcers will be deployed for five days, starting from the first day on October 26, throughout the Puja mandaps until the immersion of Durga in Bijoya Dashami on October 30.

A total of 16,800 Ansar personnel will be deployed alongside other law enforcers to ensure security. The minister also urged the Puja arrangement committee leaders to install close circuit cameras and metal detectors in the mandaps.