Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Saturday called upon political parties, religious leaders, community organizations and international entities to reject efforts aimed at stirring fear or exploiting communal tensions.

Emphasizing the nation's core values, Shafiqul said, "Bangladesh’s strength has always been its diversity and the shared belief of its people that this country must be safe and dignified for everyone."

Addressing recent reports by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (Oikya Parishad) and other NGOs, Shafiqul expressed his gratitude to these groups for their vigilance in highlighting violence affecting minority communities.

He noted that he, like many Bangladeshis, is "deeply concerned" about the safety of every citizen.

"I understand the fear and trauma these incidents create, especially among religious minorities who are an inseparable part of our society," Shafiqul said, adding that protecting all communities—Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim alike—is a matter he takes personally.

The Press Secretary assured the public that every reported case is under investigation, with arrests already made in the majority of instances.

He noted that the Home Ministry is coordinating with local authorities to ensure swift responses, victim protection, and the fair application of the law.

"Protecting all communities, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim alike, is something I take personally. Every reported case is being investigated, and in most cases, arrests have already been made," he added.

However, Shafiqul also called for honesty in how crimes are reported and categorized. "Not every crime involving a minority citizen is a hate crime and saying so clearly matters," he argued.

He warned that labeling all incidents as hate crimes weakens the focus on "real hate crimes," citing the brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das as an example of an incident that demands specific attention.

Alam attributed many of the recent incidents to the long-term politicization of security forces under the previous administration. He explained that since the fall of the Hasina government, criminal groups and local rivals have exploited the current period of uncertainty.

"Since the fall of the Hasina government, criminal groups and local rivalries have taken advantage of uncertainty, and people from all communities have suffered," he said, adding, "This is a time for responsibility, not division."

With Inputs from UNB