Rizvi visits Jagannath Hall, stresses religious harmony and equal rights.
BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today visited Jagannath Hall puja mandaps on Dhaka University campus and exchanged greetings with the devotees on the occasion of “Sharadiya Durga Puja” celebrations.
Greeting members of the Sanatan (Hindu) community at the puja mandaps, he said festivals teach people to transcend all boundaries and inspire them to foster a sense of brotherhood.
Driven by the universal appeal of festivals, people of other faiths also share the joy, he noted.
He stated that it is the state's responsibility to protect the rights of every citizen and ensure that Durga Puja is celebrated smoothly, peacefully, and securely. The state is currently fulfilling that responsibility, he added.
Mentioning that the Hindu community had requested a two-day holiday this time, he said that the government instead extended it to three days, allowing Hindu brothers and sisters to enjoy a total of five days holiday.
In this context, he said 500 kgs of rice had previously been allocated for various puja mandaps and temples, the government has increased this allocation to 600 kgs this year.
Regarding the implementation of government commitments, Rizvi said that priests and attendants of every temple will receive a monthly honorarium from the government, and the government is currently working to fulfil this electoral promise.
Speaking on Bangladesh's secular character, the BNP Acting Secretary General said that the country’s heritage spanning thousands of years has been one where people participate in each other's festivals.
Some may conspire or plot against this glorious tradition, but the devout people of this country will never allow such conspiracies to succeed, he asserted. Throughout hundreds of years, people have jointly participated in our indigenous cultural traditions, he added.
When religious beliefs and worship remain personal to each individual, it is Prime Minister Tarique Rahman who has ensured that the state fulfils its responsibility of enabling every citizen to exercise their religious rights.
