Kolkata saw a change in the location for Eid al-Adha prayers this year, with namaz being held at Brigade Parade Ground instead of the usual Red Road venue. This shift marked a departure from the long-standing tradition of conducting prayers at Red Road, a practice followed for years during both Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha under previous administrations, including the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress.
Under the Trinamool Congress’s governance, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee used to attend the Red Road gatherings twice annually. The decision to move the prayers away from open roads, which often caused traffic disruptions in central Kolkata, was a notable change this time around.
The Kolkata Police ensured extensive security measures throughout the city, particularly around Brigade Parade Ground and its surroundings, to maintain law and order during the occasion. Additional police personnel were deployed, especially near mosques, and drones were employed for aerial surveillance to enhance security.
Following his appointment as Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari declared that the new state government would prohibit religious gatherings on roads to prevent public inconvenience caused by traffic congestion. This directive was implemented during the recent Bakrid Namaz, which took place at Brigade Parade Ground instead of the customary Red Road location.
Last year, due to security concerns, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, responsible for the Red Road area, requested the Khilafat Committee to find an alternative site for Eid Namaz. Despite Mamata Banerjee’s efforts to secure permission from the Eastern Command, the change in venue to Brigade Parade Ground occurred following her electoral defeat.
