PM Tarique Rahman Visits Radha Govinda Temple for Durga Puja
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman visits the Radha Govinda temple in Rangpur to celebrate Durga Puja and calls for national unity.
In a significant gesture of communal harmony, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the historic Radha Govinda Dharmasabha Temple in Rangpur on Tuesday. The visit took place on the auspicious occasion of Mahanavami of Sharadiya Durgotsav, marking a high-profile engagement with the Hindu community during their largest religious festival.
A Warm Welcome at the Pandal
Arriving at the pandal around 12:05 PM, the Prime Minister was greeted by a delegation of temple and community leaders. Among those welcoming him were Bhabatosh Sarkar Bachchu, President of the temple committee; Khokon Sarkar, the General Secretary; and Ramjiban Kundu, President of the Rangpur district branch of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. Other key figures present included Prashanta Kumar Roy, General Secretary of the city branch, and Palash Kanti Nag, Member Secretary of the City Citizens' Committee.
The atmosphere was one of celebration as Tarique Rahman exchanged greetings with the devotees. In a moment of personal connection, the Prime Minister waved to the crowds and agreed to take selfies with the devotees who requested them, conveying his warm wishes to the Hindu community.
The Journey to Rangpur
The Prime Minister's day began early, departing from Dhaka's Tejgaon Airport at 9 AM via an Air Force aircraft. He landed at Saidpur Airport at 9:50 AM, where he was received by a host of high-ranking officials, including:
- Asadul Habib Dulu, Minister for Disaster Management and Relief
- Farhad Hossain Azad, Minister of State for Water Resources
- Mahfuz Un Nabi Chowdhury Don, Administrator of Rangpur City Corporation
- Shamsuzzaman Samu, Chairman of Rangpur Development Authority
- Jahangir Alam, Divisional Commissioner
- Aminul Islam, DIG
- Ishrat Jahan, Deputy Commissioner
- Mohammad Mozammel Haque, Superintendent of Police
Following the airport formalities, the Prime Minister traveled to Rangpur by road. The route was lined with hundreds of party leaders and activists, particularly at Taraganj and Paglapir, who gathered to welcome him. Tarique Rahman acknowledged the crowds from his motorcade and stopped at these two locations to deliver brief speeches, urging everyone to work in unity for the welfare of the country and its citizens.
A Milestone Visit
This trip marks a significant milestone as it is Tarique Rahman's first visit to Rangpur since assuming office as Prime Minister following his party's victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Expanding Celebrations and Future Stops
The scale of this year's festivities is evident in the numbers. Prashanta Kumar Roy, General Secretary of the Rangpur city branch of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, noted that Durga Puja is being celebrated at 964 pandals across the Rangpur district this year, an increase over previous years.
The Prime Minister's itinerary continues beyond Rangpur. After his visit to the Radha Govinda temple, he is scheduled to return to Saidpur Airport to depart for Rajshahi, where he will visit the Dharmasabha Temple. His tour will then take him to a Puja pandal in Chattogram before he finally returns to Dhaka tonight.
The Sharadiya Durgotsav celebrations will conclude on Wednesday with the traditional immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami.