Bangladesh Army Chief General Wakar-uz-Zaman reassured the Hindu community of their safety ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja festival, scheduled from October 9 to 13. During a visit to Dhaka’s Dhakeshwari Temple on Saturday, General Zaman reviewed the security preparations and extended his best wishes to the Hindu community for their largest religious festival.

As part of his visit, General Zaman held consultations with key figures, including the President of the Metropolitan Puja Committee and representatives from the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council. He confirmed that, following the instructions of the interim government, the army had deployed personnel across districts to ensure law and order during the festivities.

He expressed hope that all Hindus in Bangladesh would celebrate Durga Puja peacefully and with enthusiasm, under the watchful eye of security forces.

In contrast to the Army Chief’s assurance, media reports earlier revealed concerns within the Hindu community. Allegedly, several Durga Puja committees were asked to pay Rs 5 lakh each as a form of 'jizya' tax — a tax historically imposed on non-Muslims during Muslim rule. The demand, reportedly issued via official channels, led many Puja committees to cancel their events this year.

In response to the growing concerns, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of minorities during the Durga Puja celebrations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that protecting minorities is crucial and expressed hope that no incidents would disrupt the festivities.