Our identity is Bangladeshi, not religious: PM

Photo: collected

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said religion is a personal matter of an individual but the common identity of people of all faiths in Bangladesh is their citizenship.

"Our only identity is not our religion; our only identity is that we are citizens of Bangladesh. Whatever religion we belong to, religion is my personal matter. Our only identity is that we are citizens of Bangladesh," he said.

He also called for unity and an end to divisions in the name of religion.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while exchanging greetings with Hindu community members at the JM Sen Hall Durga Puja mandap in Rahmatganj in Chattogram on Tuesday night.

Extending his Sharadiya Durga Puja greetings to the Hindu community, Tarique Rahman recalled the sacrifices made by people of all faiths during the 1971 Liberation War.

"Those who fought in the war and those who were martyred-we did not see who was Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian. We did not look at their religion; we saw only that they were fighting for the Liberation War," he said.

Referring to the 2024 July Uprising, the Prime Minister said people, including students, had united to oust an autocrat without considering the religious identity of those who were shot during the movement.

"Nobody asked whether the person who was shot was Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian. There should be no division in the name of religion in the Bangladesh of the future," he said.

The Prime Minister said he had come before the people as the country's head of government to convey that Bangladesh belonged to everyone, irrespective of religious faith.

"This country is yours, this country is mine, this country belongs to all of us. Whether we are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian, religion is my personal matter." he said. 

Seeking cooperation from people of all faiths in running the country, Tarique Rahman said the government expects everyone's support in building a beautiful and self-reliant Bangladesh. 

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and PM's Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarkar also spoke on the occasion.

Among others, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Sa Ching Prue, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Ministers for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam and State Minister for Land Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, and members of parliament from Chattogram city and district were present.

The Prime Minister donated Tk 20 lakh for the development of the mandap. Members of the Puja celebration committee also presented him with a bonsai tree.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman landed at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram at 7:40 pm and went directly to the Puja mandap.

The visit was part of his tour of different parts of the country marking Sharadiya Durga Puja. 

Earlier in the day, the premier visited Puja mandaps in Rangpur and Rajshahi and exchanged greetings with members of the Hindu community.