Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has visited Durga Puja sites and temples, meeting members of the Hindu community and exchanging greetings as the country’s major Hindu festival is underway. On Tuesday, he visited sites in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram. The visits come as the Bangladeshi government has raised its financial grant for Durga Puja from Tk 4 crore to Tk 5 crore, declared three consecutive public holidays, and ordered tighter security arrangements nationwide.&nbsp;At a Sharadiya greetings programme at the Radha Gobinda Dharmasabha Temple in Rangpur, Mr Rahman said the country had long been home to people of all faiths and called for that coexistence to continue.&nbsp;“Just as people of every religion have lived together peacefully in this country for thousands of years, we want them to continue living together in peace for the next thousand years as well,” he told those gathered.&nbsp;He recalled that people of different religions had fought together in the 1971 independence war and had again come together during the 2024 student-led mass uprising that removed the previous government. “We must also work together, irrespective of religious beliefs and affiliations, if we want to build the Bangladesh we aspire to create,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-male-anti-constitutional-cult-rahul-gandhi-attacks-rss-on-its-foundation-day-1792510370292">‘All-male, anti-constitutional cult’: Rahul Gandhi attacks RSS on its foundation day</a>&nbsp;The increased grant was approved after the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust requested Tk 4 crore; the prime minister later raised the sum to Tk 5 crore and personally handed over the cheque on 7 October. The same day the government also allocated Tk 3 crore for the Buddhist community’s Kathin Chibar Dan festival.&nbsp;A government notification issued on 7 October declared public holidays on 20, 21 and 22 October 2026. Combined with the regular weekend, this gives government employees five consecutive days off.&nbsp;&nbsp;Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said after a high-level coordination meeting that agencies at national, divisional, district and upazila levels had been instructed to maintain law and order. Measures include round-the-clock monitoring cells, improved coordination between police and volunteers, and efforts to ensure uninterrupted electricity and emergency lighting at puja venues.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Durga Puja sites across the country and called for religious harmony as the government increased festival funding, declared three consecutive public holidays and strengthened security arrangements nationwide.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has visited Durga Puja sites and temples, meeting members of the Hindu community and exchanging greetings as the country’s major Hindu festival is underway. On Tuesday, he visited sites in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram. The visits come as the Bangladeshi government has raised its financial grant for Durga Puja from Tk 4 crore to Tk 5 crore, declared three consecutive public holidays, and ordered tighter security arrangements nationwide. At a Sharadiya greetings programme at the Radha Gobinda Dharmasabha Temple in Rangpur, Mr Rahman said the country had long been home to people of all faiths and called for that coexistence to continue. “Just as people of every religion have lived together peacefully in this country for thousands of years, we want them to continue living together in peace for the next thousand years as well,” he told those gathered. He recalled that people of different religions had fought together in the 1971 independence war and had again come together during the 2024 student-led mass uprising that removed the previous government. “We must also work together, irrespective of religious beliefs and affiliations, if we want to build the Bangladesh we aspire to create,” he said. Also Read: ‘All-male, anti-constitutional cult’: Rahul Gandhi attacks RSS on its foundation day The increased grant was approved after the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust requested Tk 4 crore; the prime minister later raised the sum to Tk 5 crore and personally handed over the cheque on 7 October. The same day the government also allocated Tk 3 crore for the Buddhist community’s Kathin Chibar Dan festival. A government notification issued on 7 October declared public holidays on 20, 21 and 22 October 2026. Combined with the regular weekend, this gives government employees five consecutive days off. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said after a high-level coordination meeting that agencies at national, divisional, district and upazila levels had been instructed to maintain law and order. Measures include round-the-clock monitoring cells, improved coordination between police and volunteers, and efforts to ensure uninterrupted electricity and emergency lighting at puja venues.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited Durga Puja sites across the country and called for religious harmony as the government increased festival funding, declared three consecutive public holidays and strengthened security arrangements nationwide.

Bangladesh PM Rahman visits Durga Puja sites as government boosts funding, holidays and security

Bangladesh has said a favourable atmosphere must first be created before Prime Minister Tarique Rahman can undertake a bilateral visit to India, and has reiterated its request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.A.K.M. Shahidul Karim, spokesperson for Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said officials from both countries had been in contact for several weeks about the possibility of Mr Rahman’s visit. “However, this process was vitiated by the open press interaction by Sheikh Hasina on 5th Aug, who has been convicted by the tribunal for committing crime against humanity,” he said.“We have made our position clear on this matter. We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for the visit. To this end we have requested the Indian authorities to act on our request to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals, and hand over accused killers of Hadi. We are awaiting their response.”Mr Karim added that Bangladesh would continue to pursue a “Bangladesh first” policy to promote friendly ties with neighbours on the basis of sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference and mutual benefit.India and Bangladesh have been examining possible dates for Rahman’s first official visit to New Delhi, with windows around 21 August and the first week of September under consideration. No final dates have been confirmed. The invitation was initially extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephone call after Mr Rahman’s election victory in February. New Delhi later renewed the offer in Mr Rahman’s capacity as BIMSTEC chair, inviting him to the BRICS summit in Delhi in September.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bangladesh-explore-fresh-dates-for-pm-rahman-s-delhi-visit-1786685490038">India and Bangladesh explore fresh dates for PM Rahman’s Delhi visit</a>Last week has seen a flurry of diplomatic contacts aimed at stabilising relations. On 10 August, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, called on Bangladesh PM Rahman and separately met the home minister in Dhaka. The chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing, Parag Jain, was also in the Bangladeshi capital for consultations. The following day High Commissioner Trivedi returned to Delhi and briefed PM Modi on the developments. India’s Ministry of External Affairs publicly restated the invitation for Mr Rahman to participate in the BRICS summit.The High Commissioner earlier this month also met Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to discuss cooperation in the power and energy sectors. Dhaka sought increased diesel supplies from India, according to Bangladeshi media reports.Relations have been strained by the continued presence of Sheikh Hasina in India and a virtual press conference she held on 5 August. Dhaka expressed “outrage” over the event and the platform provided to her. India’s Ministry of External Affairs distanced itself from her remarks, stating that it did not endorse the comments.

India and Bangladesh have been examining possible dates for Rahman’s first official visit to New Delhi, with windows around 21 August and the first week of September under consideration. No final dates have been confirmed.

Bangladesh has said a favourable atmosphere must first be created before Prime Minister Tarique Rahman can undertake a bilateral visit to India, and has reiterated its request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. A.K.M. Shahidul Karim, spokesperson for Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said officials from both countries had been in contact for several weeks about the possibility of Mr Rahman’s visit. “However, this process was vitiated by the open press interaction by Sheikh Hasina on 5th Aug, who has been convicted by the tribunal for committing crime against humanity,” he said. “We have made our position clear on this matter. We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for the visit. To this end we have requested the Indian authorities to act on our request to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals, and hand over accused killers of Hadi. We are awaiting their response.” Mr Karim added that Bangladesh would continue to pursue a “Bangladesh first” policy to promote friendly ties with neighbours on the basis of sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference and mutual benefit. India and Bangladesh have been examining possible dates for Rahman’s first official visit to New Delhi, with windows around 21 August and the first week of September under consideration. No final dates have been confirmed. The invitation was initially extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephone call after Mr Rahman’s election victory in February. New Delhi later renewed the offer in Mr Rahman’s capacity as BIMSTEC chair, inviting him to the BRICS summit in Delhi in September. Also read | India and Bangladesh explore fresh dates for PM Rahman’s Delhi visit Last week has seen a flurry of diplomatic contacts aimed at stabilising relations. On 10 August, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, called on Bangladesh PM Rahman and separately met the home minister in Dhaka. The chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing, Parag Jain, was also in the Bangladeshi capital for consultations. The following day High Commissioner Trivedi returned to Delhi and briefed PM Modi on the developments. India’s Ministry of External Affairs publicly restated the invitation for Mr Rahman to participate in the BRICS summit. The High Commissioner earlier this month also met Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to discuss cooperation in the power and energy sectors. Dhaka sought increased diesel supplies from India, according to Bangladeshi media reports. Relations have been strained by the continued presence of Sheikh Hasina in India and a virtual press conference she held on 5 August. Dhaka expressed “outrage” over the event and the platform provided to her. India’s Ministry of External Affairs distanced itself from her remarks, stating that it did not endorse the comments.

India and Bangladesh have been examining possible dates for Rahman’s first official visit to New Delhi, with windows around 21 August and the first week of September under consideration. No final dates have been confirmed.

Dhaka says ‘propitious environment’ needed for Bangladesh PM Rahman’s India visit; restates Hasina extradition demand

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Bangladesh PM Rahman visits Durga Puja sites as government boosts funding, holidays and security

Dhaka says ‘propitious environment’ needed for Bangladesh PM’s India visit