DHAKA : Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said no
community in Bangladesh needs to be identified as a “minority”, as all citizens
will enjoy equal rights, security and freedom based on citizenship rather than
religion or any other identity, reports BSS
“Our primary and foremost identity should be that we are
all Bangladeshis,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing the
inaugural ceremony of the Historic Central Janmashtami Procession at the
Dhakeshwari National Temple premises here today, marking the Central
Janmashtami Festival 1433.
Calling for a non-communal Bangladesh, Salahuddin said the
government’s fundamental policy is “Bangladesh for everyone” and that
religious, social and ethnic identities should come afterwards.
He said religious freedom and observance for people of all
faiths had been ensured since the present government assumed office six months
ago.
Referring to the Constitution, the minister said the state
is obligated to ensure religious freedom for every citizen and that no
discrimination can be made on the basis of religion.
He also urged people to replace the term “communal
harmony” with “religious and social harmony, coexistence and peace”.
Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee President Gopal
Chandra Debnath presided over the programme, while Dhaka South City Corporation
Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam attended the procession by
lighting a ceremonial lamp.
Bijon Kanti Sarker, Special Assistant to the Prime
Minister (status of State Minister), on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic
Affairs and lawmaker from Dhaka-07 constituency Hamidur Rahman were present
there as guests of honour.
The procession began from plassey intersection and concluded at Bahadur Shah Park in the old Dhaka.
