Shawdesh Desk:

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, has begun at temples and makeshift mandaps across the country amid due religious fervour and festivity.

The 5-day celebration began with invocation of the Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Shasthi.

This year Durga Puja is being celebrated at 32, 666 mandaps across the country including 257 in the capital.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and chief adviser Muhammad Yunus greeted people of the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja.

The government extended Duga Puja holiday by a day to facilitate its joyous celebration.

Ahead of Durga Puja, security has been significantly ramped up nationwide.

Inspector general of police Md Mainul Islam on Monday said that members of the Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh would remain on 24-hour duty at each mandap to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration.

During a press briefing at Dhakeshwari Temple on Wednesday, the IGP emphasised that the Bangladesh Police, alongside other law enforcement agencies, were taking extensive measures to create a festive environment.

The interim government has issued a set of instructions for the local administration and law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order situation during the Durga Puja celebrations across the country.