Pause Durga Puja music during namaz, azan: Bangladesh tells Hindus

New Delhi: The interim government in Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus directed Hindu community to refrain from playing musical instruments as part of Durga Puja celebrations during namaz and azan, reports say.

Bangladesh's Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retired) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said the organisers had agreed to the request for turning off sound systems and avoid playing musical instruments during azan and namaz, India Today reported.

It is reported the interim government has decided to recruit volunteers to maintain security.

Chowdhury urged people not to cross the border back and forth to see the Puja festivities and requested ‘everyone to organise good puja mandaps in the border areas this time so that our people don’t have to go to the other side to see the Puja,’ The Indian Express reported.

The directive came weeks after attacks on the religious minorities in the country, particularly Hindus community following the ouster of former Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina.

A total of 205 incidents of attacks on members of Hindu community were recorded after the fall of Hasina administration.

Taking over the interim government Yunus urged everyone to maintain communal harmony in the country.

While talking to PM Modi over phone on August 16, Yunus assured that his government would ensure protection of ‘Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh’.

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