Bangladesh Police has issued a set of safety guidelines for organisers and visitors to ensure peaceful, secure and festive Durga Puja celebrations.The recommendations were outlined in a press release issued by Police Headquarters on Wednesday, October 14. The guidelines focus on preventing the spread of rumours, strengthening security at puja mandaps, maintaining communal harmony and following designated routes during idol immersion.Police urge public to verify information before sharingPolice have urged people to refrain from spreading unverified information about incidents circulating on social media. The public has also been advised not to like, comment on or share information without first checking its authenticity.Security measures at puja mandapsOrganisers have been advised to arrange separate entry and exit points for male and female visitors and discourage people from entering puja mandaps with bags, sacks or bundles.Police have also recommended installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and fire extinguishers at puja mandaps. Archway gates should be installed at important venues, while adequate lighting must be ensured at both puja mandaps and idol immersion sites.Organisers have been advised to arrange standby generators or rechargeable lights as alternative sources of lighting in case of power outages.The guidelines also recommend deploying volunteers to help maintain security. To ensure they can be easily identified, volunteers should wear distinctive clothing, visible identity cards and armbands marked Volunteer.Call to maintain communal harmonyPolice have urged everyone to respect the religious sentiments of people from other faiths and maintain communal harmony throughout the celebrations.Sound systems at puja mandaps near mosques should be used at a reduced volume during azan and prayers. The use of sound systems should also be limited during idol immersion. People have further been advised to refrain from setting off fireworks and firecrackers.Follow designated routes for idol immersionTo ensure normal traffic movement, organisers have been advised to follow designated routes during idol immersion. The immersion ceremonies should also take place at locations specified by the local administration.Emergency contact numbersBangladesh Police has provided contact numbers for several control rooms to assist people in emergencies.Police Headquarters Control Room: 02223380661, 02223381967, 01320001299, 01320001300Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP): 02223355500, 01817602050Dhakeshwari Temple Central Control Room: 029611353, 01705505529SRB Control Room: 0177772009Fire Service Control Room: 02223355555, 01713038181, 01713038182, 01730336699People can also call the National Emergency Service 999, which operates round the clock, to seek assistance from the police, ambulance services and fire service. The service is toll-free.Police have also advised people to visit the official Bangladesh Police website to obtain contact numbers for district police superintendents and officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations.