PM Hasina asks all to avoid hurting religious sentiments

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned against hurting religious sentiments while exercising freedom of expression.

But she dismissed suggestions during her Sunday press conference that her comment would encourage religious radicals suspected to be behind a recent spate of attacks on secular bloggers, writers and publishers.

"Why should my comment encourage them (radicals)! We will treat killers as killers, we will catch them and have them punished," Hasina told journalists.

But she was quick to add: "I belong to a religion and I would be upset if someone offended my sentiments by writing something obscene or preposterous.”

"There will be a similar reaction from Hindus, Buddhists or Christians, if someone hurts their religious beliefs."

She said her government upholds the freedom of expression but she was only for greater caution when people express their views on religion.

"I don’t want anybody's religious sentiments to be hurt. I am only advising caution, not trying to stifle freedom of expression," she said.

"As one who truly believes in secularism, I respect not only my own religion but also those practised by others," said Hasina.

She said secularism does not mean not accepting the role of religion.

"If someone is an atheist, he or she has a right to be so, but nobody has a right to hurt anyone's religious sentiment," said Hasina.

She came down firmly on 'distortions' when writing about religion.

"That is not acceptable."