Preparations are going on in full swing in the tourist district Cox’sbazar to celebrate Durga Puja. Photo: BSS

COX'S BAZAR, Sept 25, 2025 (BSS) – With just a few days left for Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Bangalee Hindu community, preparations are going on in full swing in the tourist district Cox’sbazar to celebrate the festival with due religious fervour and traditional enthusiasm. 

Idol makers in Cox's Bazar are busy in giving the final touch at the deities ahead of Puja. Craftsmen are busy decorating the idols. Puja shopping also gained momentum as women, men and children are busy in shopping. 

The organizers are also busy with various arrangements, including ensuring the safety of devotees and food arrangement at puja mandaps. 
Members of the law enforcement agencies are ready to make the puja festival joyful and avoid unpleasant incidents. 

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has taken special security measures to ensure a peaceful environment at all mandaps during the puja.

According to District Puja Udjapan Parishad, this year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at around 317 mandap in nine  upazilas of the district.  

Artisan Milton Bhattacharya said that the demand for idols is much higher this year compared to last year. “That is why we have to work day and night,” he said.

Acting General Secretary of the Cox's Bazar District Puja Udjapan Parishad Swapan Das said Durga Puja will be held at 317 mandap in Cox's Bazar. 

“We are working in coordination with the administration for overall security,” he said.

RAB-15 Cox's Bazar Battalion Assistant Commander Major Ehitashamul Haque said RAB has made all-out preparations for the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja. 

He said that check posts have been set up at important areas including the entrance to Cox's Bazar to ensure security during the puja. 

Special patrols  and a sufficient number of RAB members will be deployed until Bijoya Dashami, he said.

Meanwhile, special trains will run on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Cox's Bazar-Dhaka routes for four days to cope with  the passenger pressure during the holidays of Durga Puja.

According to information from the Bangladesh Railway, the 'Dhaka Special' will leave Chattogram at 2:45 pm on September 30 and reach Dhaka at 8 pm. 

And the 'Chattogram Special' train will leave Dhaka at 10:30 pm on September 4 and reach Chattogram at 4:30 am the next day.

On the other hand, the 'Tourist Special' train will leave Dhaka at 10:30 pm on September 30 and reach Cox's Bazar at 6:50 am. On October 1, it will leave Cox's Bazar at 11:30 pm and reach Dhaka at 8:00 pm. The same train will leave Dhaka at 10:30 pm and reach Cox's Bazar at 6:50 am the next day. The train will operate on both routes at the same time on October 3. On October 4, the 'Tourist Special' will leave Cox's Bazar only at 11:30 pm and reach Dhaka at 8:00 pm.