Tayub Chowdhury, Chittagong : Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian inaugurated the Mahalaya celebrations on Saturday, becoming the first DC to do so in the district, according to the organisers.

The programme, titled "Shubho Mahalaya 2026", was organised by the Chattogram District Puja Udjapan Parishad. Its leaders described the DC`s participation as a gesture of communal harmony and mutual respect.

Addressing the gathering, Zahidul said he had never witnessed Mahalaya celebrations on such a large scale in his 21 years of service in field administration.

He praised Chattogram`s rich cultural heritage, saying its ethnic and religious diversity was a source of pride for Bangladesh.

He stressed the need to preserve the country`s tradition of peaceful coexistence among different communities for future generations.

Professor Arpan Kanti Banerjee, president of the district Puja Udjapan Parishad, its general secretary Advocate Nikhil Kumar Nath, and joint secretary Advocate Natu Chowdhury attended the programme, along with other parishad leaders.

Speaking separately, organisers said no previous Chattogram DC had inaugurated the Mahalaya celebrations, to their knowledge.

They welcomed Zahidul`s participation, saying he had spent time with them and assured them of administrative support ahead of Durga Puja.

The claim of a first-ever inauguration by a Chattogram DC could not be independently verified.

In his speech, Zahidul emphasised that the success of religious festivals depended not merely on elaborate arrangements but also on ensuring that devotees could perform their rituals safely and comfortably.

He urged organisers to prioritise women`s safety, ensure orderly movement of visitors and deploy clearly identifiable, well-organised volunteers.

The DC said every visitor should be able to return home with pleasant memories of the celebrations.

Referring to Durga Puja, scheduled to begin on October 16, Zahidul said the district administration had already held coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders.

He said the government had increased allocations for this year`s celebrations, while preparations were underway to accommodate an expected rise in the number of visitors.

Zahidul said he had inspected a puja mandap in Hathazari earlier in the day and would continue reviewing preparations at other venues.

He called for close coordination among law enforcement agencies, organisers and volunteers to ensure peaceful celebrations.

Assuring the Hindu community of the administration`s full support, the DC said preserving communal harmony and cultural diversity required collective efforts.

He later formally declared the Mahalaya programme open.