CHATTORAM, July 1, 2022 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony as people of different faiths have been living on this soil in peace from time immemorial.

"The Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians have been living here from time immemorial in amity and peace," he told the opening ceremony of a nine-day Ratha Jatra, one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, at the city's Probartak Sangha crorssing.

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said religion always works for bringing peace and prosperity in the country which eliminates terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism.

He called upon all to avoid fundamentalists who infuse fundamentalism in the country.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) brought out a huge procession in which chariots of Sree Jagannath (other name of Lord Krishno) were pulled from ISKCON temple to Nandankanon Tulshidam after parading different city thoroughfares.

Thousands of Hindu devotees irrespective of genders and ages including theologians, hermits, hundreds of students from different educational institutions joined the procession in pulling the ropes of chariots witnessed by onlookers and passers-by either sides of city streets.

Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Chattogram Dr Rajib Ranzon attended the inaugural function as the special chief guest.

Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Saleh Mohammad Tanvir, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Mominur Rahman, ISKCON Chattogram district General Secretary Chinmoy Krisna Das and leaders of different religious organizations, professional bodies and public representatives attended the function.

The Information Minister also urged all to boycott those spread the poison of communalism and want to turn non-communal Bangladesh into a communal state.

Mentioning the glorious past of Rath Yatra festival in Chattogram, Dr Hasan said, it's a big festival in this region.

"This Rath Yatra has been a festival for ages. Thousands of people took part in the festival in Chattogram. In fact, various rituals of different communities have become a part of our culture. This Ratha Yatra has also become a part of our culture," he added.

The Minister said Bangladesh was born as a non-communal state under the dynamic leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He said one can deny the truth that country was divided in 1947 on the basis of communalism but it is true.
 
"One state was created for Hindus and another for Muslims. But we Bengalis had realized that this communal state system was not for us, because our first identity is who I am. (At first) I am a Bengali, I speak in Bangla, I sing in Bangla.

“The second identity is who I am, whether I am a Hindu or a Muslim, or a Buddhist or a Christian. This Bangladesh was created under the leadership Bangabandhu when our Bengali culture and identity was threatened in the communal state system in Pakistan," he added.

He said attacks were carried out on the spirit after the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975.

"The state's fundamental principles were changed. Attempts were carried out to create a communal state and in many cases they became successful," he added.

Hasan said Sheikh Hasina made efforts to take ahead the nation bringing back its founding principles after forming the government in 1996. But when AL lost polls in 2001 elections, communal elements again started mushrooming to turn Bangladesh a communal state, he said.

"The state's fundamental principles have again been restored in the last 13 and half years by Awami League government. Now all people have equal rights in Bangladesh. Our government is working under the leadership Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure equal rights for people of all faiths," he added.

The minister said communal forces still make evil efforts to mount up and sometimes they try to bite like snakes.

 "Our government has cracked down them. We are determined to crack down on any communal evil forces and to ensure equal rights for all in this state. That is why the way the communal evil forces tried to rise during the last Durga Puja but the government took immediate steps against them," he said.

Hassan said those who do politics to make communal acts, the main theme of their politics is to spread communalism and anti-Indian speeches. When elections approach, the evil forces try to use communalism in polls.

 "When national election nears in the country, the communal forces start saying that Awami League is the party of Hindus, AL is the spy of India though these types of 'tablets' do not work likewise previous times. They will appear again with the same tone as election is approaching," he added.

 The information minister said AL government has done a lot for the Hindus.

 "Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina has changed the Enemy-Property Act which was enacted during the Pakistan period dubbing three crore people of the country as enemies," he added.

 He said Sheikh Hasina made arrangements to return the properties that were valued taking advantage of that law side by side taken various other steps.
 
 "It is clear how much the rate of religious minorities is now in the field of employment, starting from the secretariat to the judiciary, the army, the police force, the administration, and how much it was before. This analysis shows what our government is doing to ensure the rights of all," he added.

 He said a police commissioner has been appointed from the minority for the first time in Chattogram, which has never ever happened before.

"The Chief Justice of the country was also appointed by one of the traditional communities during our government's tenure," he added.