Immersion of idols resumes in Chattogram
Supporting the hartal, protesters have staged sit-in protests on various roads of the city
The immersion of idols in Chattogram has resumed after a four-hour suspension following an attack on JM Sen Hall Puja mandap on Friday.
Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Celebration Committee has backtracked from their earlier decision to suspend the immersion upon an assurance from the administration, said Ashish Kumar Bhattacharjee, president of the committee.
However, the committee is yet to take any decision on hartal that was announced in protest over the attack.
Earlier, following Jumma prayers, a group of people demonstrated in front of Shai Jame Mosque located at Anderkilla. Some later moved towards JM Sen Hall to break in at the mandap there.
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Police, however, intercepted the group and fired 50 rounds of blank bullets, leading to a clash that left at least 20 people injured, including five cops.
Law enforcers also arrested 50 people in connection with the clash, Kotwali Thana Officer-in-Charge Nezam Uddin told The Business Standard.
Following the attack, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council called for a hartal in the city till Saturday noon.
Also, Chattogram Metropolitan Puja Celebration Committee announced to suspend the immerson of idols in the city.
However, Officer-in-Charge of Patenga Police Station Kabir Hossain told The Business Standard that the announcement to halt the immersion had come around 2:30pm, by which time idols from many mandaps had already been brought to Patenga beach.
Those who arrived before the declaration immersed their idols, while the rest maintained the suspension of the last day's rituals.
Meanehile, supporting the hartal, protesters staged sit-in protests on various roads of the city.
Visiting JM Sen Hall Puja mandap, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Saleh Mohammed Tanvir said those who are involved in the violence will be arrested soon.
Action will also be taken against police officials if any official is found to have neglected his duty during the incident, added the commissioner.
There are some 276 puja mandaps across the city and the idols were scheduled to be immersed at 2.30pm today.
Earlier, tensions escalated across the country following an incident of "demeaning the Holy Quran" at a Puja Mandap in Cumilla's Nanua Dighi area on Wednesday.
Durga Puja celebrations began in the country on 11 October.
