Bangladeshi Hindus demand 3-day holidays during Durga Puja

Atul Brahmachari | HENB | Dhaka :  Fifteen prime Hindu organisations in Bangladesh on Friday demanded three days government holiday during Durga Puja.

‘National Committee for 3-day government holiday during Durga Puja’  organised a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club (National Press Club) here in the morning where the speakers came up with their demands.

Addressing the programme, President of Hindu Mohajot Provas Chandra Roy, said, “For long we have been demanding for three-day government holiday during Durga Puja but the government remains silent.”

The speakers also said if their demand for three-day government holiday is not met within next 15 days they would go for agitation across the country.

They also called on the government to ensure safety of the life and property of Hindus as the sectarian tension was taking roots in the country, said a press release. Further, it demanded that the government should build model Hindu temples in each district.

Chaired by Provas Chandra Roy, the rally was also addressed by Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote’s executive secretary general Palash Kanti Dey, Bangladesh Hindu Parishad president Dipankar Sikdar Dipu, General Secretary Swajan Mishra, Jatiya Hindu Samaj Sanskar Samiti president Prof. Nirendra Nath Biswas and President of Saradanjoli Forum Ratan Chandra Paul among others.

While Muslims in Islamic Bangladesh enjoy 4 days public holidays each during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha (total 8 days) in Bangladesh, Hindus in Bangladesh get only one day holiday for Durga Puja.

As a matter of fact, the Hindus in Bangladesh part used to enjoy full span (week long) of holidays during Durgapuja festival before partition of India alike the Bengali Hindus residing in West Bengal part.

The Islamic Bangladesh has been encroaching the Hindu Puja, Puja Places, Temples, Temple properties, Holidays, Festive timings, Free Speech,  Preaching of Hindu Dharma etc. gradually, causing a permanent elimination of Hindu Rights there.

Source : Hindu Existence