The Awami League has always stood by the Hindu community, says PM Hasina

The prime minister made the comments during a visit to Dhakeshwari National Temple to exchange greetings on Durga Puja

The Awami League has stood beside Bangladesh's Hindu community and has continued to support them, says Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The prime minister went to the Dhakeshwari National Temple on Sunday to exchange Durga Puja greetings with Hindu devotees.

She was accompanied by Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Fazle Nur Taposh, Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad Committee President JL Bhowmick, and its general secretary.

"After 1975, Bangladesh drifted away from its secular ideology. The Hindu community in the country was tortured many times in 1992, 2001, and even before then. But the Bangladesh Awami League stood beside you and still continues to do so,” Hasina said.

"People in Bangladesh are open-minded and they nurture a secular ideology. That’s why our slogan today says that religion is for its respective devotees, but festivals are for everyone. This is how we celebrate our festivals.”

Hasina said that Durga Puja was being celebrated peacefully across the country. “Our law enforcers are working sincerely. I would say our government has done as much as they could.”

The prime minister said that everyone in the country must receive their rights as they all fought the same Liberation War.

"All of you are the sons of this soil. We work to ensure that everyone’s rights are established here in the country. We want you to pray for Bangladesh so its journey towards development continues. Now we have food and electricity in every household. We work for the welfare of the people and that’s our sole responsibility.”

People from all religious groups and races must enjoy the same rights, Hasina said. She said the government wanted the Hindu community to celebrate the puja peacefully and that law enforcers and government leaders would remain vigilant to ensure that.