KHULNA, Sept 17, 2022 (BSS) - All sorts of preparations for peaceful celebration of Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, are being taken in the city and the district.

The five-day 'Sharodiya Durga Utsab' will begin on October 1 and conclude on October 5 through the immersion of idols in rivers.

Artists and idol-makers, locally known as pauls, are passing busy time with making idols of the Goddess Durga.

General Secretary of city unit Puja Udjapon Parisad Prashanta Kumar Kundu today told BSS that a total of 130 Puja Mandaps would be set up in the metropolitan city while 900 in all nine upazilas of the district.

Around 450 idol-makers are engaged in building idols for Durga Puja in Khulna, he said.

Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) and Khulna district police authorities have already taken adequate security measures for smooth celebration of Durga Puja.

Additional deputy commissioner of KMP (Headquarter) Md Nazrul Islam said tight security measures, uninterrupted electricity supply and smooth traffic management will be ensured for peaceful celebration of Puja.

"A total of 682 plain clothed police including 58 mobile teams will be on duty and 116 check posts would be set up in the metropolitan area," he said.

Meanwhile, additional superintendent of Khulna police Shushanta Sarker said a full-proof security measures will be taken at each temple in the district from next week.

Around 800 security personnel including 78 mobile teams will be deployed at the district Puja Mandap.

Besides, Ansar members will be deployed in all temples and RAB personnel will be patrolling in the city and district, said the Khulna deputy commissioner Md moniruzzaman Talukder.