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He urges them to remain vigilant against political exploitation of their religious identity
Published : 28 Feb 2025, 08:51 PM
BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called the general election a "big opportunity" to establish a safe democratic Bangladesh for people of all religions and backgrounds.
He urged members of the Hindu community to support and cooperate with the BNP in achieving this goal.
Speaking virtually as the chief guest at the opening session of the biennial conference of the Janmashtami Celebration Council Bangladesh at Chattogram’s JM Sen Hall field on Friday afternoon, Tarique said every citizen, regardless of religion, belief, or ideology, is a proud Bangladeshi.
"Minority or majority are just demographic terms and nothing more. Every citizen of this country—believer, non-believer, or sceptic—has equal rights. This is BNP’s policy and politics," he said.
Tarique emphasised that BNP believes the state belongs to everyone, irrespective of their faith.
"Religion is personal, but the right to security belongs to all. The upcoming election is a massive opportunity to build a safe Bangladesh for everyone. BNP seeks your support and cooperation for this cause," he added.
Addressing the Hindu community, Tarique claimed that most attacks on minorities in the past decade and a half were not due to religious reasons but were motivated by greed and political manipulation.
"If we closely examine the incidents, we will see that apart from a few cases, most attacks on minorities in Bangladesh were not religiously motivated. Police have the information to prove this," he said.
According to him, "These attacks were driven by unlawful greed, land grabbing, or political motives. I urge you to remain cautious so that your religious identity is never misused for vested interests."
Tarique alleged that the then ruling party had politically exploited the Hindu community over the past 17 years.
"If the Hindu community has realised this truth, then it is a significant realisation," he said.
He also said this awareness among Hindus would play a crucial role in creating a prosperous, humane, and developed Bangladesh.
The BNP leader stressed that a person's party affiliation or religious identity does not guarantee their safety.
"It is not necessary to be tied to a particular party for security in the state and society. The identity of being a majority or minority cannot guarantee one’s safety," he said.
Referring to the past regime, Tarique remarked: "During the rule of the ‘fugitive dictator’, many members of the so-called majority community lived in fear, trapped in isolation for months and years. Their religious identity did not ensure their honour and security."
Tarique emphasised that the most critical factor for a state and society is democracy, justice, and the rule of law.
"Without the rule of law, none of us are safe. The only way to ensure security for all citizens—regardless of religion or ideology—is by establishing the rule of law," he said.
Referring to the political transition in Bangladesh, Tarique said: "On Aug 5 last year, the ‘cruel dictator who committed mass killings’ fled the country. However, democracy is still not out of danger."
"There are ongoing conspiracies to sabotage the interim government. The ‘dictator’s associates’ are constantly trying to make a comeback through various strategies," he warned.
He concluded by saying, "Until a parliament and government are formed by representatives directly elected by the people, democracy will remain at risk."
