Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen visited the century-old Amlapara Sarbojonin Puja Mandap in Narayanganj on Monday, expressing admiration for its decorations and thanking the organizers for their hospitality.
Christensen said he had wanted to visit a Durga Puja pandal since learning about the festival and was particularly interested in visiting a venue that had not previously been visited by a US ambassador.
The organizers welcomed him with a dance performance to Bangla songs and screened a documentary highlighting the history and activities of the puja mandap.
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md Raihan Kabir, Superintendent of Police Md Habibur Rahman, Amlapara Sarbojonin Puja Udjapan Committee President Prabir Kumar Saha, and Treasurer Sani Saha were among those present, along with other committee leaders.
Members of the ambassador’s delegation included Alice Kennedy, political officer at the US Embassy; spokesperson Purnima Roy; security officer Eric Wells; and Foreign Service National Investigator Sheikh Shibli.
Earlier, Christensen stopped at the historic Bose Cabin in Narayanganj city for a cup of tea.
As part of his tour of the district, the ambassador also visited Panam City in Sonargaon and the Bangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation. At the foundation’s Karupalli, he toured the Jamdani village and learned about Bangladesh’s traditional crafts.
Security was tightened at the Amlapara puja mandap and surrounding areas ahead of the ambassador’s visit.
