Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said religion is a personal
matter of an individual but the common identity of people of all faiths in Bangladesh is their
citizenship.
“Our only identity is not our religion; our only identity is that we are citizens of Bangladesh.
Whatever religion we belong to, religion is my personal matter. Our only identity is that we are
citizens of Bangladesh,” he said.
He also called for unity and an end to divisions in the name of religion.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while exchanging greetings with Hindu community members at the
JM Sen Hall Durga Puja mandap in Rahmatganj here tonight.
Extending his Sharadiya Durga Puja greetings to the Hindu community, Tarique Rahman recalled the
sacrifices made by people of all faiths during the 1971 Liberation War.
“Those who fought in the war and those who were martyred-we did not see who was Muslim, Hindu,
Buddhist or Christian. We did not look at their religion; we saw only that they were fighting for
the Liberation War,” he said.
Referring to the 2024 July Uprising, the Prime Minister said people, including students, had
united to oust an autocrat without considering the religious identity of those who were shot
during the movement.
“Nobody asked whether the person who was shot was Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian. There
should be no division in the name of religion in the Bangladesh of the future,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he had come before the people as the country’s head of government to
convey that Bangladesh belonged to everyone, irrespective of religious faith.
“This country is yours, this country is mine, this country belongs to all of us. Whether we are
Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian, religion is my personal matter.” he said.
Seeking cooperation from people of all faiths in running the country, Tarique Rahman said the
government expects everyone’s support in building a beautiful and self-reliant Bangladesh.
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy,
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed,
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and PM’s Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarkar also
spoke on the occasion.
Among others, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Sa Ching Prue, Water Resources Minister
Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Ministers for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam and State
Minister for Land Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, and members of parliament from Chattogram city and
district were present.
The Prime Minister donated Tk 20 lakh for the development of the mandap. Members of the Puja
celebration committee also presented him with a bonsai tree.
Earlier, Tarique Rahman landed at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram at 7:40pm and
went directly to the Puja mandap.
The visit was part of his tour of different parts of the country marking Sharadiya Durga Puja.
Earlier in the day, the premier visited Puja mandaps in Rangpur and Rajshahi and exchanged
greetings with members of the Hindu community.
Maha Nabami was observed today, while the Sharadiya Durga Puja festivities will conclude with the
immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami tomorrow.
