Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has urged members of the Hindu community not to identify themselves as a minority, but as citizens of Bangladesh with equal rights.
“People may have different religious identities, but as a nationality, we are all citizens of Bangladesh. The government’s goal is to ensure religious freedom, coexistence, and social peace and harmony,” he said.
The home minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the historic central Janmashtami procession, organised by the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad at the Dhakeshwari National Temple premises in Dhaka on Friday to mark the birth of Lord Krishna.
Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee President Gopal Chandra Debnath presided over the programme.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarker and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam, among others, were also present.
Addressing members of the Hindu community, Salahuddin said, “We believe that you delivered your verdict in the last election by voting against the forces of evil. We have also taken visible steps over the past six months to strengthen democracy and uphold secularism.”
He said the government had ensured religious practices and freedom for people of all faiths since taking office.
“You have dispelled the misconception held by those who believed that the votes of our Hindu brothers and sisters constituted a particular vote bank,” he said.
“Everyone says, ‘Religion is for individuals, the state is for all,’ and everyone has the right to security. The Constitution of Bangladesh entrusts the state with ensuring religious freedom and the right of people of all faiths to practise their religions.”
He said the Constitution also prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion and guarantees the security of places of worship, as well as the freedom to establish them.
“We do not want to confine these principles to the Constitution or simply keep them on paper. We want to ensure this harmony and freedom in practice, and we have made that commitment,” he said.
Salahuddin said people could retain their religious, cultural and ethnic identities, but their primary identity should be that of Bangladeshi citizens.
“All citizens of Bangladesh—Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and members of ethnic communities—will retain and practise their respective religions, cultures and religious freedoms. But as a nationality, we are all citizens of Bangladesh, and there will be harmony among us,” he said.
The home minister said Bangladesh should come first in the identity of all citizens.
“There is only one identity that matters. That is why our leader has said, ‘Bangladesh first.’ If Bangladesh comes first, then we are Bangladeshis first, followed by our religious, cultural and ethnic identities. Bangladesh comes first, and Bangladesh is for everyone. This is our principle,” he said.
Salahuddin also urged members of the Hindu community not to describe themselves as minorities.
“You are free citizens of Bangladesh. No one should identify themselves as a minority. We hope that everyone will identify themselves not on the basis of religion, but on the basis of citizenship—as a citizen with equal rights in this country,” he said.
He also questioned the continued use of the term “communal harmony”, saying the expression had become entrenched in common usage and literature.
“If we did not use the word ‘communal’ and instead said we would maintain social and religious harmony, it would sound better,” he said.
“From today, what should we say? We will maintain religious harmony, social harmony and peace. There is no need to mention communal harmony. It should be religious harmony, coexistence, and social peace and harmony,” the home minister added.
FP/A
