At Janmashtami event, Tarique calls for unity beyond ‘minority-majority’ divide

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged people to remain alert to rumours and attempts to provoke communal tensions, saying some groups are trying to destabilise the country through social media.

He made the remarks on Thursday at a Janmashtami reception, organised by the Prime Minister's Office, for members of the Hindu community at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna, will be celebrated on Friday.

“Some people are spreading rumours in various ways to destabilise the country. Some are also using social media in an attempt to provoke people,” Tarique said.

“I urge everyone to remain vigilant so that communal provocation or hatred does not become a cause of unrest in our society.”

The prime minister said the government was committed to ensuring the security of every citizen.

Extending Janmashtami greetings to the Hindu community, Tarique said Bangladesh belonged equally to people of all faiths.

“This country belongs to you, to me, to all of us. As citizens, we all have equal rights in this country,” he said.

“It is the constitutional and fundamental right of every citizen to live according to their own religious beliefs and culture.”

Tarique said both the government and the BNP believed that “religion is a matter for the individual, but the state belongs to everyone”.

“Everyone has the right to practise their own religion, and everyone has the right to security,” he said.

He also urged people to strengthen religious harmony, tolerance, mutual respect and goodwill.

With Durga Puja approaching, the prime minister wished the Hindu community a peaceful and safe festive season.

“May you celebrate all your festivals in peace, comfort and safety,” he said.

‘We are Bangladeshis, Not Minorities’

Tarique also called for people to move beyond the labels of “minority” and “majority”.

“In today’s global village, identities such as ‘minority’ and ‘majority’ should not be the main issue,” he said.

“Rather than thinking of ourselves as minorities or majorities, let us all think of ourselves as Bangladeshis.”

He linked the idea to the BNP’s concept of Bangladeshi nationalism, saying political, religious and ethnic identities should not become sources of division or discrimination.

“Our proud identity as citizens is: ‘We are Bangladeshis,’” he said.

Tarique said people of different faiths and communities had lived together in Bangladesh for generations while maintaining mutual respect and harmony.

But he warned that there had also been repeated attempts to create division.

“We must all remain vigilant so that anti-social forces cannot raise their heads again and no one can destroy the existing atmosphere of harmony,” he said.

Kansa Comparison

The prime minister also drew a comparison between the Hindu story of Krishna defeating the tyrannical ruler Kansa and Bangladesh’s recent political upheaval.

According to Hindu tradition, Krishna was born in Mathura at a time when the city was ruled by Kansa.

Highlighting the Hindu belief that Krishna’s mission was to defeat evil and protect the righteous, Tarique said: “In Bangladesh too, a cruel ruler like Kansa sat upon the shoulders of the people after stripping democracy-loving citizens of all their rights."

“After more than a decade and a half, democracy-loving people, irrespective of party, religion or ethnicity, brought down those Kansa-like fascists at the cost of thousands of lives.”

He said Bangladesh had since begun a new democratic journey.

“Now it is time to rebuild the country by repairing a fragile economy, a divided administration and a deteriorated law-and-order situation,” Tarique said.

“A state and society bring together people of different religions and beliefs. That is the beauty of a diverse society.”

Welfare State Pledge

The prime minister said political and economic empowerment were essential to building a prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh.

Citing government initiatives, including Family Cards, Farmer Cards, Sports Cards and honorarium allowances for religious leaders of all faiths, he added: "The current government wants to build a welfare state that, within its means and capabilities, provides necessary assistance to citizens irrespective of party affiliation, religion or ethnicity.”

The prime minister also distributed honorariums among nine temple priests and attendants. Similar payments were sent electronically to priests and temple attendants across the country.