PM urges lawmakers to ensure peaceful Durga Puja, maintain communal harmony
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed lawmakers to remain vigilant and work closely with local administrations to ensure peaceful celebrations of the upcoming Durga Puja across the country, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said today.
The Premier issued the directives during a meeting of the BNP parliamentary party on Sunday, she told journalists after attending a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the capital.
"Most importantly, the Prime Minister instructed everyone to remain vigilant so that Durga Puja can be celebrated peacefully and in an orderly manner throughout the country," Shama said.
She said the Prime Minister had particularly emphasised maintaining communal harmony and preventing any attempt to disrupt the religious festival.
Describing Durga Puja as a sensitive occasion, the state minister said the Premier had urged lawmakers to remain alert to possible attempts by disruptive elements to create unrest.
She alleged that associates of the previous government and certain other groups could attempt to disturb the celebrations.
"We must ensure that nobody is allowed to disrupt the celebrations under any circumstances," she said.
Shama said the Prime Minister had repeatedly instructed members of parliament to remain engaged with their constituents and stand beside the people in both-- good and difficult-- times.
She said the BNP parliamentary party meeting featured an open discussion lasting around three hours, during which 214 lawmakers were given opportunities to raise issues concerning their constituencies and national affairs.
"I would like to thank the Prime Minister for giving all 214 members of parliament the opportunity to speak openly about their respective constituencies and broader national issues," she continued.
The directives came as the government stepped up preparations to ensure security at Puja mandaps ahead of the Hindu community's largest religious festival.
Responding to another question about local government elections, Shama said the BNP would decide on supporting candidates after considering the circumstances in individual constituencies.
The state minister was speaking after attending the BIISS seminar titled "Foreign Policy of Bangladesh: Navigating Pathways in a Shifting World".
BIISS Research Fellow Ayesha Binte Towhid, Research Director Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Fellow ASM Tarek Hassan Semul and Research Director Dr Sufia Khanom presented papers on different aspects of Bangladesh's foreign policy.
BIISS Director General Major General ASM Ridwanur Rahman delivered the welcome address and chaired the session.
