A total of 22 eminent citizens have strongly protested against recent remarks by Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, regarding Durga Puja, calling them offensive, discriminatory, and harmful to communal harmony. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of his comments and a public apology.
The controversy arose after the adviser reportedly stated that “this time during Durga Puja, there must not be any gatherings involving alcohol and drugs.” Civil society representatives argued that such remarks not only undermine the sanctity and solemnity of one of the oldest and most inclusive religious festivals but also misrepresent Durga Puja by associating it with narcotics and antisocial activities. They said the statement sends a divisive and misleading message to children, younger generations, and people of other faiths while hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community and challenging Bangladesh’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony.
The signatories emphasized that although Durga Puja is a religious celebration of the Hindu community, in practice it has evolved into a cultural festival that welcomes participation from people of all faiths and professions, symbolizing inclusivity and social unity. To associate such a festival with “alcohol and drugs” amounts to spreading false and provocative information, they said, and could incite communal unrest.
The joint statement highlighted that in the past, Hindu religious festivals and places of worship in Bangladesh have repeatedly come under attack, including incidents of vandalism, arson, looting, and mob violence. They noted that from the Liberation War to the July People’s Uprising, Hindus and all communities have played an integral role in shaping the country. Any attempt to justify mob violence, discrimination, or humiliation on religious grounds is unconstitutional, unlawful, and contrary to the country’s cultural fabric, the citizens argued.
The statement further recalled that even after the July Uprising, religious and ethnic minorities, as well as people with differing views, continued to face attacks on their beliefs, practices, places of worship, and institutions. Several shrines and religious sites were targeted across the country under the pretext of baseless allegations of alcohol and drug use, with instances as extreme as exhuming and burning the body of Nurul Pagla. The absence of justice in such incidents, they warned, shows the growing influence of extremist forces. In such a climate, they said, irresponsible remarks from a state official at such a high position could embolden radical groups and further fuel mob violence, undermining social peace.
The signatories demanded that the home affairs adviser immediately retract his statement and issue a public apology. They also called on the government to introduce clear directives and regulatory measures ensuring that no state official in future makes derogatory or misleading remarks about religious or cultural festivals. Additionally, they urged authorities to guarantee security for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations and to take immediate, effective steps to ensure the safety and rights of all religious and ethnic minorities across Bangladesh.
The statement concluded with a call to uphold the spirit of the July People’s Uprising by fostering a pluralistic and inclusive Bangladesh, rejecting all extremist, discriminatory, and divisive rhetoric or behavior, and strengthening a culture of equality, human dignity, and harmony.
The statement was signed by prominent figures including Sultana Kamal, founding president of the Human Rights Culture Foundation; Z. I. Khan Panna, chairperson of Ain o Salish Kendra; Professor Anu Muhammad, former faculty member of Jahangirnagar University; Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh; Shamsul Huda, executive director of ALRD; senior Supreme Court lawyer Subrata Chowdhury; legal activist Tabarak Hossain; Professor Firdaus Azim of Brac University; Professor Sumaiya Khair of Dhaka University’s law department; Professor Jobaida Nasreen of the anthropology department; Associate Professor Tasnim Siraj Mahbub of the English department; Professor Robayet Ferdous of the mass communication and journalism department; Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog; Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of Coast Trust; writer and researcher Pavel Partha; development activist Soikat Shubhra Aich; researcher Joba Talukdar; rights activist Rozina Begum; Associate Professor Maidul Islam of Chittagong University; rights activist Amirul Rasul; Saeed Ahmed; and indigenous rights activist Hana Shams Ahmed.