Staff Reporter :
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement has said the government will continue to protect the communal harmony and peaceful co-existence, as those are cornerstones of its democratic polity.
For centuries, people of different faiths, ethnics and classes have been living in this land in peace and harmony, read the statement issued on Tuesday.
It also said, “Our long-standing commitment to tolerance is safeguarded by Constitutional provisions. The supreme law of the land gives protection to all its citizens against discrimination and intolerance, and the democratic governance of the country ensures enjoyment of fundamental rights of its citizens irrespective of their religions, beliefs and ethnicity.”
“The Government of Bangladesh strongly upholds that every religious community has the right to establish, maintain and manage its own religious institutions and to perform religious rituals.”
“The Government of Bangladesh, under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has set an example by advocating the motto of ‘Each unto his or her religion, festivals are for all.’ Bangladesh is perhaps the only country where the major religious festivals of all religions are observed as public holidays.”
“Under the current circumstances, the government urges all concerned to uphold the spirit of tolerance, peace and pluralism and to guard against further efforts to malign the state institutions and tarnish the image of the country.”
“The government remains committed to prevent the recurrence of such untoward incidents and would expect that further complication or misunderstanding would be averted through responsible and fact-based reporting through all media.”
“When the Hindu devotees in Bangladesh were celebrating the Durga Puja in a joyous mood, there emerged reports of attacks on Hindu religious sites and idols in different parts of the country. The government of Bangladesh unequivocally condemned those incidents and took serious note of the reactions from within and outside the Hindu community.”
The Prime Minister herself has assured of bringing the perpetrators to justice, by taking recourse to technological means available with the law enforcement and investigation agencies, also read the statement.
