Reiterating her government’s tough stance against militancy and terrorist activities in the name of religion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged all Bangladeshis to show respect to each other while performing their respective
religious rituals.
“Human welfare is the essence of all religions. So all will perform their religious rituals and other activities with dignity and everyone will show respect to others,” said the prime minister during a visit to a minority shrine on the occasion of Durga Puja, the largest festival of Hindu community.
“People will perform their respective religious rituals in a festive mood across the country … this is our policy. I hope amity and fraternity will prevail among the people of the country. Such an environment should be created so that the people of all religions can perform their respective religious rituals with dignity,” she said, adding, “We won’t tolerate any terrorist activities in the name of religion … Islam is a religion of peace,
harmony and brotherhood.”
Hasina said those who are committing terrorist activities in the name of religion are actually doing anti-religion deeds. “We’ve taken stern actions against militancy and terrorism, and will do the same in the coming days,” she said, adding that there will be no place for
militancy in Bangladesh.
The prime minister also said her government wants peace, prosperity and development, not conflict. “We want development in such a way so that everybody, including rural people, get the benefits of development, irrespective of religion and cast.”
She also mentioned that Bangladesh believes in the peaceful coexistence of all people. “And all religions talk about
compassion and tolerance.”
During the Liberation War, Hasina said, the people of all faiths had made their supreme sacrifice and fought for the country’s independence under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s leadership. “We want people to live in peace; we want the triumph of humanity … that’s our desire,” she said.
Hasina said Bangabandhu had dreamt of establishing a poverty- and hunger-free Sonar Bangla (Golden Bangladesh). “We’re striving to achieve the goal and the country advanced much in this regard.”