Tarique Rahman Extends Greetings to Hindu community, Sends Message of Harmony

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday extended greetings to the Hindu community ahead of Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Bangali Hindu community and called for spreading the message of harmony and fraternity across the country and beyond in a video message on Facebook. 

Addressing the Hindu community, Tarique Rahman said, "Sharadiya Durga Puja is one of the main religious festivals of the Hindu community in Bangladesh and across the world. On this occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja, I extend my greetings to the Hindu community of the country."  

He also added that people of different religions in the country practice and celebrate their religions with great enthusiasm, which reflects the enduring spiritual and cultural values of Bangladesh. 

"People of different religions in the country, every group-tribe-community, will practice their religion, will celebrate their religious festivals with great enthusiasm and have been doing it -- this is the beauty of the religious social values ​​and culture of Bangladesh from time immemorial to the present," he added.   

The BNP Acting Chairman also said, "As Bangladeshis, it is through this diversity that mutual friendship, harmony, amity and brotherhood between different religions, tribes, and communities are manifested. Our state and constitution have guaranteed the security of every person, believer, non-believer, sceptics -- irrespective of party, ideology, religion, caste. Therefore, ensuring the security of every citizen is the duty of the state." 

Tarique Rahman also cited the Hadith and said, "The holy Hadith also contains instructions in this regard- whoever oppresses non-muslims, denies their rights, imposes unbearable burdens or seizes their property without their consent—our beloved Prophet (pbuh) warned his followers that on the Day of Judgement, he himself would stand against such a person." 

He emphasised that in a fascism-free Bangladesh, every citizen must play a proper role and uphold their moral responsibility to protect the safety and dignity of others.

"As a citizen in the fascism-free Bangladesh, every citizen must play a proper role to protect the safety and dignity of other citizens, to uphold their moral responsibility -- it is the natural custom. However, I urge the law enforcement agencies of the country to be alert and vigilant so that no one can create any communal tension or attempt to disrupt security around the Sharadiya festival, as was seen under the past fascist regime," he added.  

The BNP acting chairman said, "My appeal to the Hindu Community of the country, celebrate the festival with joy, confidence and a sense of security across the country. Spread the message of fraternity and harmony everywhere. My party, BNP, believes religion is individual, but the state belongs to all; religion is individual, but the right to security belongs to everyone." 

"Finally, I once again extend my greetings to the Hindu community of the country, on behalf of me and our party -- BNP -- the party of democratic people of Bangladesh, regardless of religion and caste," he concluded.