Dhaka, Dec 31, 2023 (BSS) - Speakers at a discussion today said those who carried out the genocide in the country in 1971 during the great Liberation War used the religion and tarnished its appeal in every possible way.

"More people have been killed in the conflicts of religion than in two world wars. Those who committed genocide in our country used religion and definitely tarnished its appeal. We need to think about how we can separate religion from the state", said the speakers.

They were addressing a discussion on "Bangladesh Genocide from the perspective of religion" at RC Majumdar Auditorium of Lecture Theater of Dhaka University.

"Genocide and violence have nothing to do with religions. History shows that religion and genocide are two opposite words. But, the conflicts, violences and genocides have been occurring for years by misinterpreting and using religion," said Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Bangabandhu Chair Professor Dr. Syed Anwar Husain.

 "India was divided on the basis of religion. The place of religion cannot be excluded in the discussion of genocide. Accepting the real situation, you have to think of a solution", said Presidium Member of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Parishad Milan Kanti Dutta, said.

Genocide has nothing to do with religion but genocide has been organized through ages using religion, he added.

Dr Mohammad Hannan, a researcher of the history of Bangladesh's Students' Movement and Liberation War, presented the keynote speech in the discussion.

General Secretary of National Church Parishad Rev. David Aniruddha Das, and General Secretary of Bangladesh Buddhist Federation Bhikkhu Sunand Priya addressed the discussion with Director of Center for Genocide Studies Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Curzon in the chair.