Sculptors are busy making statues of Hindu goddess ahead of the community’s biggest Durga Puja festival.
 Around 100 sculptors are engaged in making idols for Durga Puja in Bogra. One of them says he along with his assistant will make 10-12 idols.
Busy putting finishing touches to the idols, they are pleased with the orders they have received from places both within and outside of the district like Joypurhat, Nagoan, Gaibandha, Rangpur and Sirajganj, said some artisans at Horibashar Temple of Chelopara area of the town.
The workers hope for earning better profits this year as the number of puja mandaps [pandal] has increased in the district. They will get good return as the price of each idol has increased from Tk3,000 to Tk6,000.
However, the lack of workers in this area is a problem, said artisan Niranjan Kumar from Sirajganj district. They have to hire craftsmen from other areas.
There are some 300 workers in and outside of the town. A worker is paid Tk 6,000 to Tk7,000 per month on a contract basis for making idols.
Meanwhile, a preparatory meeting in the run up to Durga Puja was held at the conference room of Sonatan Dharma Mondir on October 2.
District District Puja Celebration Committee’s President Mr. Dilip Kumar Deb, president and general secretary of the 12 upazilas of the district committee were also present at the meeting. The meeting discussed security measures during the festival.
District Puja Celebration Committee sources said that some 616 puja mandaps will be set up in the district this year, up by 18 from last year.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Bogra Md. Asaduzzaman said security
measures will be taken to avoid any untoward incident.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Asraf Uddin said tight security measures will be taken during the festival.
In Narsindi distirct, a total of 86 mandaps have been set up to celebrate the Durga Puja festival, said Babu Ranjit Kumar Saha, president of Narsingdi District Durga Udjapan parishad.
Decoration of temples, lighting, and setting up of mandaps have already begun giving a festival look of the town..This is the biggest religious festival of the Hindus, said Makhan Das, President Bouakur Durga puja Udzapan Parishad in Narsingdi town.
Narsingdi District Administration and police Administration have  taken preparation for peaceful holding of the festival.