Durga Puja begins on a dull note

By Our Special Correspondent

DHAKA, OCT. 22. Durga Puja, one of the major festivals of the Hindus, began today on a dull note despite the Government's assurance of support and security.

The morale of the Hindus has been shattered by the attacks on them and demolition of deities in the country, The Daily Star newspaper reported today. A large number of Hindus were forced to leave their houses. But later many people returned to their homes and started preparing for the festival amid fear, it said.

The Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, donated 40 lakh taka for the celebrations, while at the same time the Home Minister, Air Vice-Marshal (retd.) Alfat Hossain Chowdhury, termed the media reports on the attacks `exaggerated'.

The Bangladesh Puja Ujjapan Parishad appealed to the Hindus to have low-key celebrations due to continued attacks on them across the country. The Government, meanwhile, beefed up security and deployed Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in several places, including Dhaka to prevent any untoward incident. Both the ruling BNP and its ally the Jamaat-e-Islami, said they would help Hindus celebrate the festival.

At the same time, after visiting the affected areas, some prominent Bangladesh citizens said an exodus of minority community members is inevitable.

``Repression on minority people started in different parts of the country after the elections. It is a national crisis,'' said a declaration of `The Shachetan Nagorik Samaj', a body of secular intellectuals at a press conference on Sunday.

The Awami League and the 11-party Left alliance have termed the attacks on the minority as well as political rivals as ``politically motivated'' and warned the Khaleda Zia Government of serious consequences.

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Section  : International
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