President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on people from all walks of life to work together to build a safe, democratic, humane and welfare-oriented Bangladesh based on mutual respect, equality and social justice.
He made the call at a state reception held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Wednesday morning to mark Sharadiya Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami.
The President said attempts are sometimes made to create divisions in society through rumours, misinformation and religious extremism. He urged everyone to remain firm and uncompromising in resisting such efforts, particularly calling on the younger generation to stand up for truth, justice and humanity.
“This country belongs to all of us. We must build the nation together. No evil force should be allowed to undermine national unity and progress by creating divisions,” he said.
Communal Harmony Is Our StrengthExtending greetings to members of the Hindu community on the occasion of Bijoya Dashami, the President said that while wars, violence and communal conflicts were taking place in different parts of the world, people of all religions in Bangladesh were celebrating their religious festivals peacefully.
He described this as one of the country's greatest achievements.
“This harmony is our strength and our identity. We must preserve it at all costs,” he said.
The President reaffirmed that Bangladesh was a country of communal harmony, where people believed in secular values and had lived together for thousands of years in an atmosphere of mutual respect and brotherhood.
He also highlighted the contributions of people from all religious communities to the Liberation War, various democratic movements and struggles against injustice, describing their participation as a foundation of national unity.
Discrimination Based on Religious Identity UnacceptableThe President said the central message of Durga Puja was the defeat of evil and the triumph of truth, beauty and welfare.
He stressed that discrimination or persecution against any citizen on the grounds of religion, race or community identity was unacceptable under any circumstances.
He called for the formation of a national committee to ensure equal civic facilities for people of all religious communities.
“Religion is individual, but the state belongs to everyone. The right to security and justice belongs to all,” he said.
The President noted that Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians were all citizens of Bangladesh and that the Constitution guaranteed every citizen equal rights, dignity and religious freedom. He said the government was committed to ensuring the implementation of these rights.
He added that law enforcement agencies and the administration had been instructed to remain highly vigilant to ensure that people of all religions could observe their respective religious festivals in a safe and joyful environment.
Reception Held at BangabhabanAt the beginning of the programme, leaders of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust, Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Welfare Front, Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council and Metropolitan Universal Puja Committee welcomed the President with flowers on behalf of their respective organisations.
Later, the President and his wife, Rahat Ara Begum, exchanged greetings with guests and visitors attending the reception at Bangabhaban.
Among those present were Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Moafazzal Hossain, State Minister Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, Prime Minister's Special Assistant with the rank of state minister Bijon Kanti Sarkar, and senior officials of the President's Office.
FP/MIB
