Hindu alliance warns 700 Durga Puja sites ‘at risk’ across Bangladesh, seeks Army deployment

The Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, an alliance of Hindu community groups, has identified more than 700 Durga Puja pavilions across Bangladesh as “vulnerable” ahead of this year’s festival. The group has also demanded the deployment of the Army at every pavilion to ensure the Hindu community's biggest festival proceeds “smoothly”. Speaking at a media briefing at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday, the organisation’s representative Prodip Kanti Dey said: “So far, we have received information that idols in seven puja pavilions across five districts have been vandalised. We fear that more than 700 pavilions will be in a vulnerable state this year.” He added that the Satkhira District has the highest number of sites at risk. “Already, 55 puja pavilions...