President urges collective action to protect constitutional rights, communal harmony
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today called upon people from all religious communities in the country to work consciously and collectively to protect constitutional rights.
"The rights guaranteed by the Constitution to people of every religion must be protected. If the rights of any citizen are violated, people must stand up against such violations," he said
The President said this at an exchange of views after visiting Ramakrishna Mission in the capital this afternoon on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja 2026.
The president said, “We want the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to people of every religion in this country to be protected. Citizens of this country, regardless of their religion, must work with utmost awareness to protect their rights and stand up against any deviation wherever it occurs.”
He noted that there is a bond of friendship and brotherhood among people of every religion in Bangladesh.
"This bond has developed over thousands of years, not in a day or two. We will protect that bond of the soul, brotherhood and harmony built over thousands of years at all costs,” he said.
"We want to see a Bangladesh where everyone could live in peace and happiness, where there would be no division among religions and everyone could practise their faith without fear," he further said.
Requesting all to maintain vigilance and stay aware, the president said, “Unfortunately, some people in our country at different times have tried to break this bond and creat divisions, sometimes for political reasons, sometimes for personal reasons and sometimes with malicious intentions."
Seeking everyone's cooperation in restoring the democratic system in the country, the President said, “We have struggled and fought a long battle for a democratic system in which people's rights would be ensured. We are working to restore that system.”
“The future of Bangladesh is now in the hands of the youth. They must establish a society where narrow-mindedness, superstition, religious fanaticism in the name of religion and any form of extremism will have no place,” he said.
Calling upon people from all communities to preserve communal harmony, he said, “This country belongs to all of us and we will never allow any force to rise and destroy our truth, soul, spirit and mostly our culture.”
Urging everyone to remain united under all circumstances, the President said, the state becomes weak when divisions emerge among its citizens.”
Recalling his past experiences of Durga Puja, the President said, “During my student life, I visited Durga Puja mandaps, acted in drama and recited poems.”
“From what I have seen so far this year, Durga Puja is being celebrated peacefully across the country, and that is what we want,” he said
Extending greetings to all on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja, he said the government was working to ensure safe and peaceful celebrations, while law enforcement agencies were performing their duties.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarkar, Ramakrishna Mission Principal Swami Purnatmananda, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Santosh Sharma, and Subal Chandra Saha, president of the meeting and vice-president of the Ramakrishna Mission governing body also spoke at the programme.
