Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday assured members of the Hindu community that steps would be taken to enact a succession law for them, so that genuine heirs get their property.
She suggested that leaders of the Hindu community reach a consensus for such a law.
The government will welcome if Hindu leaders submit a draft of the law to the government, she added.
The prime minister said this while exchanging greetings with the members of Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami at her official Ganobhaban residence in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.
Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in Bangladesh in the month of August.
According to the Hindu calendar this religious festival is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksh or the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadon.
Sheikh Hasina pointed to a law enacted by her government for the Hindu community similar to ‘Heba law’ of the Muslim community, and said her government has done this to facilitate handing over of property of the Hindu community to their close relatives without any tax.
As the Hindu leaders demanded, the prime minister assured them of giving tax rebate on importing the statue of Radha Krishna from abroad.
Awami League Advisory Council member Suranjit Sengupta, State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikdar, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda also spoke on the occasion.
Principal of Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission Swami Drubeshananda, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Committee, Janmashtami Udjapon Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbojonin Puja Committee Joyanta Sen Dipu, Debashish Palit, Ramesh Ghosh, DN Chaterjee,
Chandan Biswas and Tapas Kumar Paul also spoke on the occasion.
Chief priest of Hrishidham Ashram of Chittagong was present on the occasion.
Earlier, a one-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage.
On the occasion, leaders of Janmashtami Udjapan Parishad, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee greeted the prime minister by presenting bouquets and a crest.
Leaders of the Hindu community greet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Janmashtami, at her official residence in Dhaka yesterday.
