Sampriti Jatra flags 29 districts as ‘vulnerable’ ahead of Durga Puja

Sampriti Jatra, a newly formed civic platform, has warned that 29 districts across Bangladesh face risks of communal tension and violence during the upcoming Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community. The organisation said the “risk map” was prepared after analysing incidents of attacks over the past decade on venues, procession routes, and minority homes during Puja and other occasions. Of the 29 districts, five have been categorised as “high risk”. The announcement came at a press conference held on Saturday at Dhaka Reporters Unity, titled “Sampriti Jatra’s call to protect mosques, temples, shrines, akhras and marginalised communities, and review of risks and required measures during the upcoming Durga Puja.” Writer and researcher Mir Hojaifa Al Mamduh...