The Ministry of Education has formulated a new policy for admission to government secondary schools. According to the policy, there cannot be more than 55 students in each branch from class I to IX. Students can be admitted in all classes subject to availability of seats. This policy will be implemented from the academic year 2025 and the minimum age of the students for admission in the class I should be 5 years.

According to the policy published on Wednesday (October 9), the policy will be implemented from the academic year 2025 and the minimum age of students for admission to the first class should be 5 years. Age determination in later classes will be applied consistently to students admitted in class I.

According to the policy, there will be a committee of 12 members under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education for the admission of students in the schools of Dhaka city and the committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner and UNO at the district level. The date and time of Digital Lottery program and application fee will be decided centrally by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.

Dhaka Metropolitan Admission Committee' as per the scheduled date and time the students who want to get admission in the software should apply online. The same committee will centrally manage all admission related activities of government secondary schools across the country through digital lottery. Admission applications and collection of application fees and processing and publication of digital lottery results in government secondary schools across the country will be done centrally online.

Along with the list of students selected through lottery, a waiting list of equal number of vacant seats should be prepared. If the selected students are not admitted within the prescribed date, the admission committee will arrange admission in the order of the list from the waiting list. The sequence of the published waiting list must be maintained.

The policy also states that a student can give preference for admission to a maximum of five schools. However, if both shifts are chosen in a double shift school, it will count as two schools. 

Today is Mahashtami, the third day of Autumn Durga Puja, the main religious festival of Bengali traditionalists. Like every year, this year also the special part of Durga Puja 'Kumari Puja' will be held on Mahashtami with great enthusiasm and pleasure. Kumari Puja will be held in pujamandaps across the country today (October 11) including Ramakrishna Mission in the capital.

Kumari Puja is the offering of homage to Jagajjanani by making a living idol of a maternally virgin daughter. According to the scriptures, on this day the virgin will be named after another name of Maa Durga. Through this puja, women will become pure and motherly. Everyone will be respectful to women.

The puja ceremony will begin with 16 materials. Then fire, water, clothes, flowers and wind – these five materials are worshiped to the virgin mother. After making the oblation, garlands will be placed around the neck of the goddess. At the end of Kumari Puja, devotees offer Mahashtami garlands.

Hindus believe that the worship of virgins is the worship of the creator, the worship of man and the establishment of the dignity of women in the world. Respect for women, respect for people and worship of God are the underlying teachings of Kumari Puja.

Apart from Kumari Puja, Prasad will be distributed to the devotees from one o'clock today in various temples across the country including Shankhari Bazar, Dhakeswari National Temple, Ramana Kali Temple in the capital on Mahashtami. Pujas and other programs will also be held in temples and mandaps.

Earlier, the Durga Puja of Autumn Durgotsav began on Wednesday (October 9) with Mahashasthi. The five-day festival will end on Sunday (October 13) with the immersion of idols on Vijaya Dashami. 

Advisor to Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Nahid Islam said Durga Puja is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus. The government has taken all measures to ensure that this puja can be organized smoothly. People will practice their religion unhindered. People of all religions and castes are our Bangladesh.

He said these things while visiting various pujamandaps in Dhaka on the occasion of upcoming Durga Puja on Thursday (October 10).

Adviser Nahid said, celebrate Durga Puja smoothly. Interim government has taken maximum precautionary measures to organize puja festival. Hope you will be able to celebrate Puja in a more joyful atmosphere in the future.

Nahid Islam said, since independence, the Hindus of the country have been tortured, their wealth has been looted. They were attacked but they did not get any justice because those who will judge were involved in this attack. Those in power have no right to be in power if they cannot ensure the safety of the people.

The advisor also said that after August 5th, those involved in the incidents of attacks and vandalism on Hindus are being worked on with the aim of bringing them under exemplary justice. We think that if we cannot set the example of the strictest trial of such incidents in the society, then these incidents will not decrease.

Besides, arrangements will be made to compensate the affected Hindu brothers. It is the government's duty to return what is due and your wealth. Also, we seek your cooperation so that the communal harmony of Bangladesh remains intact.

Nahid Islam said, some parties want to gain political advantage by creating differences between us, destroying temples and idols. Everyone should be careful about that. We are monitoring these issues very carefully. We are very strict on these matters.

It is to be noted that on Thursday, the advisor visited Sri Sri Jut Madan Gopal Jiu Vigraha Tagore Temple in Sutrapur, Shankhanidhi Temple in Wari, Pooja Mandap organized by Young Starts Puja Committee at Central Women's College premises in Tikatuli and Pooja Mandap at Harijan Palli organized by Sri Sri Sarvajanin Durga Puja Committee at Bangshal. 

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam said that those involved in singing 'Islamic songs' on the stage of Puja Mandap in Chottogram will be arrested within 24 to 48 hours.

She made this announcement on the stage of the Puja mandap of JM Sen Hall in the city where the incident took place on Thursday (October 10) night.

The Deputy Commissioner said that a case will be filed against those involved by Thursday night and added, 'A case will be filed against them by tonight. If necessary I will meet CMP Commissioner Sir. I will talk to him about the case by tonight.'

Farida Khanom said that the one who was in charge of the stage did not fulfill his duty, "He who was responsible for deciding who will go on the stage and who will not, has neglected his duty. You will take action against him. I will request this to the puja celebration committee. This worship is not only for you. This worship is mine, ours. This worship is for everyone. Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony.

Earlier on Thursday around 7:30 pm, a singing group named Chattogram Cultural Academy performed two songs on the stage of JM Sen Hall Puja Mandap. The video of the song later went viral on Facebook, drawing criticism.

According to the witness, six members of the song group went on stage to perform the song around 7:30 pm on Thursday. The organization performed the famous song 'Age ki sundor din kataitam' written by Shah Abdul Karim and 'Sudhu Musalmaner lagi aseniko Islam, biswa manabatar kalyane srostar ai bidhan' written by Chowdhury Abdul Halim. Among them, the video of this song of God's provision for the welfare of the people of the world spread on Facebook.

When asked, General Secretary of Chattogram City Pooja Celebration Parishad, Hillol Sen Ujjal said, "I have come to know that the singing group has come to the Puja Mandap and performed music with the permission of our joint secretary Sajal Dutt." But at that time I was not at the scene.

Chattogram Cultural Academy President Salim Zaman also claimed that a group of them went to sing at the Puja Mandap on the invitation of Sajal Dutt, Joint Secretary of the Puja Udjapan Committee. He said, 'Sajal Babu of Pooja Celebration Parishad invited us. He called and said, "Come here." I will give you a little floor (opportunity). Some patriotic songs will be sung.'' But a party is campaigning on this to conspire, we have gone to sing. We did not force anything. I went as soon as I was invited.