2-day holiday on Durga Puja demanded

The Parishad leaders also demanded for illuminating the government buildings and non-stop supply of electricity and water during the festival.

They also urged the authorities concerned to beef up security at strategic points near every altar (mandap).

They also urged the government for telecasting special programmes in radio and television during the puja.

The Parishad leaders submitted their demands at an inter-ministerial meeting at the home ministry recently.

The State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar chaired the meeting.

The meeting emphasised not to beat drums at the puja mandaps during Iftar hours to avoid any untoward incident as both the festivals coincides with the holy month this year.

The local Imams have been asked to discuss with the Purohits to avoid any untoward situation in this regard during the festivals, sources said.

Babar, in a post-meeting briefing, said they have taken tight security measure across the country for ensuring peaceful celebration of Durga puja.

"Police, BDR, Ansar, and community police along with 8,000 members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will keep watch round the clock during the festival," Babar said.

He briefed about separate control rooms at home ministry to monitor the crime situation.

The meeting also emphasised on holding regular meetings at district level to union level to monitor overall crime situation.

Meanwhile, Puja Parishad President Major General (Retd) CR Dutta expressed his satisfaction over the security measures across the country taken by the government.

According to sources, about 19,800 mandaps were set up across the country last year. This year the figure might increase by one to two thousands, Babar stated.

About 144 mandaps will be set up in the capital, sources said.

State Minister for Water Resources Advocate Goutam Chakrobarti, secretaries of home and religious affairs ministry, Inspector General of Police (IGP), DMP commissioner and DG of Rab also attended the meeting.