Evident change: Kolkata's Red Road open for traffic during Eid prayers for the first time since the 1970s
During TMC"s tenure, then-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also a regular presence at these Red Road gatherings in Kolkata
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On May 28, Kolkata saw a significant shift in its Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) prayer arrangements this year, with namaz held at Brigade Parade Ground rather than the traditionally used Red Road venue, marking the first such change in several years.
The groundwork for this shift, however, had begun earlier. Last year, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, which holds administrative authority over Red Road, had already asked the Khilafat Committee to identify an alternative venue, citing security concerns.
While Mamata Banerjee had indicated she would try to persuade Army authorities to retain the traditional arrangement, her government's electoral defeat meant that effort was never pursued, leaving Brigade Parade Ground as the new venue for this year's prayers.
The Red Road had long served as the site for congregational prayers during both Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, a practice maintained across successive governments, from the Left Front (1977–2011) through the Trinamool Congress (2011–2026). Muslims used to gather on the streets, offer namaz, and eventually block roads during the festival, causing traffic problems.
During TMC's tenure, then-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also a regular presence at these Red Road gatherings. The use of open roads for prayers had, however, frequently triggered traffic disruptions in central Kolkata, an issue that was notably absent this time, as no Bakrid namaz was conducted on open roads anywhere in the city. Several videos of Namaz then and now are making rounds on social media, in which a positive change in traffic is clearly evident after the BJP government took over the rule in the state.
Red Road Kolkata. 2025 vs 2026 Bakrid pic.twitter.com/9ahMdL8xGG
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) May 28, 2026
Security across Kolkata was robust, with Kolkata Police deploying additional personnel throughout the city, particularly around mosques and Brigade Parade Ground, while drones were employed for aerial surveillance to maintain law and order.
WHEN RELIGION ISN'T PUT ON A PEDESTAL ABOVE THE LAW.
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 28, 2026
Eid prayers offered in government mandated Kolkata Bridage Parade Ground and NOT on the RED ROAD for the first time in a very long time. pic.twitter.com/Bvvot33MWw
The change stems from a policy position staked out by new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who, upon taking oath, declared that his government would not permit religious gatherings on public roads that cause traffic inconvenience to citizens. Thursday's arrangements were a direct reflection of that stance.
The groundwork for this shift, however, had begun earlier. Last year, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, which holds administrative authority over Red Road, had already asked the Khilafat Committee to identify an alternative venue, citing security concerns.
While Mamata Banerjee had indicated she would try to persuade Army authorities to retain the traditional arrangement, her government's electoral defeat meant that effort was never pursued, leaving Brigade Parade Ground as the new venue for this year's prayers.