UNB, Dhaka :
Mentioning that Bangladesh soil is for all of its citizens, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called upon the followers of every religion to work shoulder to shoulder to build the country as a dignified one.
“We want to turn Bangladesh into a dignified country, and we’ll do this working shoulder to shoulder,” she said while exchanging greetings with the Bouddhist community leaders at her official residence Ganobhaban on the eve of Bouddha Purnima.
The Prime Minister categorically said the people of all religions will live in Bangladesh with equal status and dignity. “Bangladesh soil is for all of its citizens and every person will live here with equal dignity. The government is committed to ensuring that dignity,” she said.
Addressing the Bouddha community members, she said, “This is your country…this is your soil. You’ll live here with equal rights, equal dignity.”
Mentioning that the government’s philosophy is to develop the country together with people of all religions, Sheikh Hasina said, “Our development is the development for all. This is not keeping anyone aloof.”
Recalling the contributions of the people to all religions to the Liberation War, she said people from all religions fought against the occupational Pakistani forces unitedly. “People from all religions gave their blood for the country’s independence.”
The Prime Minister said a friendly atmosphere prevails in the country so that people from all religions can perform their rituals freely. “There’ll be fraternity among the people of all religions. We have to establish Bangladesh as a peaceful country in South Asia with the spirit of non-communalism.”
She also said secularism does not mean impiety.
Talking about the rise in the menace of militancy, terrorism and drug addiction across the world, Hasina said all have to be united to resist those.
Bouddhist Religious Welfare Trust under the Religious Affairs Ministry arranged the function. Saying that religion is for individuals, but festivals for all, the Prime Minister said, her government extended cooperation to the people of all religions so that they could celebrate their religious festivals peacefully.
Referring to the successful implementation of the MDGs setting an example in the world, she said her government has now been advancing the country in a planned way to materialise the sustainable development goals by 2030. Saying politics is for people’s welfare, the Prime Minister urged all to remain aware so that no incident of burning people to death and arson, unleashed by BNP in the past, takes place in the country.
Extending heartiest greetings to the people of the Buddhist community on the occasion of Bouddha Purnima, Sheikh Hasina said Gautama Bouddha used to foster equality, friendship, sacrifice, mercy and non-violence throughout his life through preaching message of peace.
Religious Affairs Minister Principal Matior Rahman, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, Sangha Nayak Suddhananda Mahathero, Upo Sangha Raj Satyapriyo Mohathero, President of the CHT Bouddha Bhikhkhu Sangha Proggyananda Mahathero, Deputy Office Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Barrister Biplab Barua, Director of Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardhy Medical College Hospital Dr Uttam Kumar Barua, Trustee of Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Dayal Kumar Barua and its Vice-chairman Shupto Bhushan Barua also spoke at the programme.
Mentioning that Bangladesh soil is for all of its citizens, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called upon the followers of every religion to work shoulder to shoulder to build the country as a dignified one.
“We want to turn Bangladesh into a dignified country, and we’ll do this working shoulder to shoulder,” she said while exchanging greetings with the Bouddhist community leaders at her official residence Ganobhaban on the eve of Bouddha Purnima.
The Prime Minister categorically said the people of all religions will live in Bangladesh with equal status and dignity. “Bangladesh soil is for all of its citizens and every person will live here with equal dignity. The government is committed to ensuring that dignity,” she said.
Addressing the Bouddha community members, she said, “This is your country…this is your soil. You’ll live here with equal rights, equal dignity.”
Mentioning that the government’s philosophy is to develop the country together with people of all religions, Sheikh Hasina said, “Our development is the development for all. This is not keeping anyone aloof.”
Recalling the contributions of the people to all religions to the Liberation War, she said people from all religions fought against the occupational Pakistani forces unitedly. “People from all religions gave their blood for the country’s independence.”
The Prime Minister said a friendly atmosphere prevails in the country so that people from all religions can perform their rituals freely. “There’ll be fraternity among the people of all religions. We have to establish Bangladesh as a peaceful country in South Asia with the spirit of non-communalism.”
She also said secularism does not mean impiety.
Talking about the rise in the menace of militancy, terrorism and drug addiction across the world, Hasina said all have to be united to resist those.
Bouddhist Religious Welfare Trust under the Religious Affairs Ministry arranged the function. Saying that religion is for individuals, but festivals for all, the Prime Minister said, her government extended cooperation to the people of all religions so that they could celebrate their religious festivals peacefully.
Referring to the successful implementation of the MDGs setting an example in the world, she said her government has now been advancing the country in a planned way to materialise the sustainable development goals by 2030. Saying politics is for people’s welfare, the Prime Minister urged all to remain aware so that no incident of burning people to death and arson, unleashed by BNP in the past, takes place in the country.
Extending heartiest greetings to the people of the Buddhist community on the occasion of Bouddha Purnima, Sheikh Hasina said Gautama Bouddha used to foster equality, friendship, sacrifice, mercy and non-violence throughout his life through preaching message of peace.
Religious Affairs Minister Principal Matior Rahman, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, Sangha Nayak Suddhananda Mahathero, Upo Sangha Raj Satyapriyo Mohathero, President of the CHT Bouddha Bhikhkhu Sangha Proggyananda Mahathero, Deputy Office Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Barrister Biplab Barua, Director of Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardhy Medical College Hospital Dr Uttam Kumar Barua, Trustee of Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Dayal Kumar Barua and its Vice-chairman Shupto Bhushan Barua also spoke at the programme.
