Dhaka, Oct 19 (V7N)- BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that people of Bangladesh, regardless of their religious beliefs, would not allow any conspiracy against communal harmony to succeed.
He made the remarks on Monday morning after visiting the Durga Puja mandap at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University.
Emphasising equal rights for citizens of all faiths, Rizvi said religious beliefs could be personal, but every citizen was entitled to equal rights under the state.
“It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that everyone can celebrate their respective religious festivals peacefully and securely, without any hindrance,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to protect those rights.
Rizvi also said the BNP had begun taking steps to fulfil commitments made to followers of traditional religions before the election.
He said initiatives had been taken in response to demands from the Hindu community, including increasing the number of holidays for Durga Puja, raising financial allocations for puja mandaps and introducing honorariums for priests and other religious service providers.
The BNP leader’s remarks came amid Durga Puja celebrations across the country, with calls for peaceful coexistence and equal religious rights featuring prominently in public statements.
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