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MANIKGANJ, Oct 12, 2024 (BSS) - Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass 
Education Prof Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar today called upon people of all 
religions to build social harmony to accelerate the country's development and 
prosperity.

 "We need to maintain communal harmony for the prosperity of the country as 
it is a necessary matter because if there is no peace and harmony, the 
country cannot make progress," he said.

The adviser was speaking at a gathering of devotees and worshipers after 
visiting the Pujamandap at Sri Sri Sarbojonin Kali Mandir at Sanail here on 
the occasion of Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu 
community.

Prof Bidhan said, "Forbearance is a key element of our culture . . . 
festivity is a part of our culture. People of different religions have been 
living side by side in our country for a long. They are living like brothers, 
enjoining each other's festivals."

Mentioning that the incumbent government would try to protect the rights of 
the citizens, he said the government has taken special measures to maintain 
this long-cherished tradition and no miscreants can deter the prevailing 
communal harmony and social cohesion of the country.

"We're going through a special time. We were in a dilemma as to how the Puja 
festival would be. The government was also concerned regarding holding the 
Durga Puja in a festive manner allowing the people to celebrate it with joy," 
the adviser added.

Noting that this government believes in an inclusive society as the religion 
is a personal matter, he said state is for all and everyone is a citizen of 
the state where all citizens will enjoy equal benefits. 

He added: "Our administration and law enforcement agencies have been working 
jointly so that miscreants cannot do any harm. The situation across the 
country is so far good. Hopefully, there will be no incident till the 
immersion of idols."

Puja Celebration Committee President Dr. Komol Kanti Biswas presided over the 
function while Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Manowar Hossain Molla and 
Superintendent of Police (SP) Md. Bashir Ahmed also spoke on the occasionS.