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Voice 9, Dhaka Bureau: Durga
Puja is the biggest festival of the Hindu community. There is a lot of anxiety,
panic, and fear among the Hindu community. Recently, leaders of some temples in
three unions of Khulna's Dakop upazila received a letter stating that they
would have to pay Tk 5 lakh to perform Durga Puja. The letter threatened that
if Chanda's words were revealed to the administration or journalists,
'Kachukata' would be done. Since the receipt of the letter, there has been
concern among the people of the Hindu community in the area. The
officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station, Md. Sirajul Islam, confirmed the
authenticity of the letter.
Sirajul Islam said the letters were sent to the president and general secretary
of one temple in Sutorkhali union, two in Kamarkhola union, and one in
Kailashganj union of the upazila on Tuesday (September 17) and Wednesday
(September 18). The yellow envelope had no address of the sender. According to
the letter, each temple will have to donate Rs five lakh for Durga Puja.
"Sirajul Islam said the letter also threatened to" "slap"
"Chanda if she told the administration or journalists about
it."
Biman Saha, general secretary of the district Puja Celebration Council,
confirmed the letter. He said he was in touch with the administration. The
administration is working on security.
The computer-composed letters read, 'Listen, if you want to worship Durga in
2024, you will have to pay five lakh rupees on behalf of each temple.
Otherwise, you can't worship. You will have the same result as I did in Hanif's
project. The money will be ready in a week's time. I will take you to the
Kalinagar market, where I will tell you. I will tell you later. If you tell
these things to the administration, journalists, or anyone else, remember that
I will slap you. Your family will not be spared. We do not know the names of
all the temples around you. The administration will not make any profit by
tricking the army into buying us all but will have to pay. By Allah, if you
don't get money, I will cut you into pieces. You're watching us.
When asked about Hanif's project, locals said that after Sheikh Hasina's
resignation on August 5, Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam
Hanif's shrimp enclosure was looted for a few days. The robbery is still going
on.
Some temple leaders, who did not wish to be named, said they did not want to
hold a big Durga Puja this time. That was the discussion. However, they are
feeling insecure after receiving the letter.
Sirajul Islam said that four temples of the upazila filed a general diary (GD)
with Dakop police station on Friday (September 20). He said the matter is being
investigated.
Sirajul Islam said that in addition to the deployment of village police in
the temples, the temple committee is being contacted on a regular basis.
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