Tarique Rahman extends Janmashtami greetings, affirms equal rights for all Bangladeshis

Tarique Rahman says all Bangladeshis enjoy equal rights in Janmashtami message

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday extended Janmashtami greetings to the Hindu community and said the country belonged to all its citizens, with everyone enjoying equal rights. Speaking at a state-sponsored reception and honourarium distribution programme for prominent members of the Hindu community, priests and sebaits at Dhaka's Osmani Memorial Auditorium, Rahman called on people to strengthen religious harmony, tolerance, mutual respect and bonds of affection. Janmashtami will be celebrated on Friday, September 4.

'Religion is personal, but security belongs to all'

Rahman said identities such as "minority" and "majority" should not be the primary concern in today's globalised world and urged all citizens to identify themselves as Bangladeshis. "A state and society consist of people from various religions and viewpoints. This diversity is the true beauty of society," he said. He added, "Therefore, in today's global village, identities like 'minority' or 'majority' are not primary issues. Instead, let us all consider ourselves Bangladeshi." Rahman reaffirmed that all citizens had equal rights and described the freedom to live according to one's religious beliefs and culture as a fundamental constitutional right. "This country belongs to you, to me, to all of us. As citizens, our rights in this country are equal," he said. "The current government believes, and the BNP believes, that 'Religion belongs to the individual; the State belongs to everyone.' Religion is personal, but the right to security belongs to all.

Warning against forces seeking to disrupt harmony

The Bangladesh prime minister said people of different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds had coexisted peacefully in the country for generations. "We must all remain vigilant so that anti-social forces cannot rise again and no one can destroy our existing harmony," he said, urging people to strengthen religious harmony and mutual respect. Rahman also warned that some groups were attempting to create divisions and provoke communal tensions, including through social media. “I urge everyone to remain vigilant so that communal provocation or hatred does not become a cause of unrest in our society," he said. Rahman later distributed honourariums to priests and sebaits from different parts of Bangladesh.

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