Politics

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman begins day-long tour of Durga Puja pavilions in three divisions

He flew to Saidpur on Tuesday morning and is due to greet devotees in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram, with his office calling it the first such visit outside Dhaka by a head of government.

ScrollBeat DeskPublished: 20 Oct 2026, 10:24

The prime minister's delegation sits aboard a military aircraft on the way to Saidpur on Tuesday morning. — The prime minister's delegation aboard the military aircraft to Saidpur on the morning of 20 October 2026, at the start of the Durga Puja pavilion visits. BNP Media Cell

At a glance

The prime minister is visiting one puja pavilion each in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram on Maha Navami.
He is also due to address a public rally in Rajshahi at 3pm.
His office says no head of government has previously visited puja mandaps outside Dhaka during the festival.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Tejgaon airport by military aircraft at 9am on Tuesday for Saidpur, beginning a day-long tour of Durga Puja pavilions in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram on Maha Navami.

He is due at the Radha Gobinda Temple in Rangpur at 10am, then the Dharmasabha temple in Rajshahi at 1:15pm, before addressing a public rally at the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School ground at 3pm. In the evening he will visit the JM Sen Hall pavilion in Chattogram's Rahmatganj at 5:30pm and return to Dhaka at 9:15pm.

Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman told the state news agency BSS that it was the first time a head of government in Bangladesh would visit Durga Puja mandaps outside the capital during the festival. The prime minister would exchange greetings with devotees, he said.

Press Secretary Saleh Shibli said the government had taken all necessary measures for the smooth celebration of the festival. "The government's policy is that religion belongs to each individual, but everyone has the right to security," The Daily Star quoted him as saying. He said allocations had been increased, holidays extended and support provided to puja mandaps.

Cabinet ministers and senior BNP leaders are travelling with the prime minister, including Women and Children Affairs Minister AZM Zahid Hossain, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam and BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

On Sunday night, he visited puja pavilions in Dhaka's Mohakhali and Banani areas with his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman.

Tuesday is Maha Navami, the ninth day of Sharadiya Durga Puja. The festival ends on Wednesday with the immersion of the idols.

Sources & further reading

bdnews24: Tarique heads to Rangpur to visit Puja pavilions on Maha Navami The Daily Star: PM leaves Dhaka to visit Durga Puja mandaps in three districts Prothom Alo: PM to visit puja pavilions in three divisions

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