Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka for Rangpur on Tuesday morning to visit Durga Puja mandaps outside the capital on Maha Navami, the ninth day of the Hindu community’s Sharadiya festival.

He left Tejgaon Airport at 9am by a military aircraft, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told UNB.

“The Prime Minister has left for Rangpur. He will visit the puja mandap at Radha Gobinda Temple and exchange greetings with devotees there,” he said.

Tarique is scheduled to visit puja mandaps in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram districts before returning to Dhaka at night, Shibly said.

He said the government has  taken all necessary measures to ensure the smooth celebration of Durga Puja across the country.

“The government’s policy is that religion belongs to each individual, but everyone has the right to security. The allocation has been increased, holidays have been extended, and all kinds of support are being provided to puja mandaps,” the press secretary said.

A number of senior BNP leaders and government officials are accompanying the Prime Minister, including BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof AZM Zahid Hussain, BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam.

Others in the entourage include Prime Minister’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarkar, BNP Special Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Vice-Chairman and MP Nipun Roy Chowdhury, BNP Assistant Organising Secretary Jayanta Kumar Kundu, Press Secretary Saleh Shibly and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.

According to the itinerary, Tarique will travel from Saidpur Airport to Rangpur’s Radha Gobinda Temple after arriving in Saidpur at 10am.

He is scheduled to leave Saidpur for Rajshahi at 12:30pm and visit the Dharmasabha Temple’s puja mandap at around 1:15pm.

After a brief stop at Rajshahi Circuit House, he will attend a public rally at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School ground at 3pm.

The Prime Minister will then fly to Chattogram, where he is scheduled to visit the puja mandap at J M Sen Hall in Rahmatganj at 5:30pm. After a brief stop at Chattogram Circuit House, he is scheduled to leave Shah Amanat International Airport for Dhaka at 7:45pm and arrive at Tejgaon Airport at 9:15pm.