"Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony...here people of all religions live together peacefully," she told a 17-member delegation of Hindu Religious Welfare Trust when they made a courtesy call at her office on the occasion of Durga puja.

"We have to maintain the tradition so that members of all religious communities can perform their religious rites properly," she added.

Extending her best wishes, the prime minister expressed the hope that this year also the devotees would observe the greatest Hindu festival in a joyous mood and with religious fervour.

The delegates thanked the premier for her government's support and co-operation in observing various religious festivals, including Durga puja, peacefully.

They expressed satisfaction over the government steps to ensure law and order during their religious festivals. They also thanked the ministers, leaders and workers and the people for their role in celebrating festivals peacefully.

The delegates also informed Khaleda that this year highest ever 17,500 puja 'mandaps' were set up across the country. They expressed their gratitude to the government for providing grants and co-operation for making the festival a success.

Awards will be up for grabs to the best-decorated puja 'mandaps' this year, they told the PM.

The delegation included Dhirendranath Saha, MP, Ranabir Roy Chowdhury, Ganesh Halder, Kartik Chandra Thakur, Paritosh Chakraborty, Pulak Kishore Chaki, Apurba Kumar Das, Amalendu Das, Advocate Swapan Sarkar and Mangal Chandra Chanda.

Prime Minister's political secretaries, Haris Chowdhury and Mosaddek Ali, were present.