Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman on Thursday said his government did not believe in using religion for political purposes and reaffirmed its commitment to equal rights and security for all citizens, regardless of faith or identity.
“We do not want to engage in politics using religion for political gain, and we have not done so in the past either,” he said in a written statement after exchanging greetings with Buddhist community leaders on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the Secretariat.
Greeting Buddhists in Bangladesh and abroad, Tarique said all religions called for the welfare of humanity and laid down ethical principles. Referring to Gautama Buddha’s teachings, he mentioned the Five Precepts, abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxicants, and said love, non-violence and compassion were central to Buddhism.
He said such principles were important for everyone and that alongside state laws, proper observance of religious teachings could help build a humane state and society.
Describing “Bangladeshi nationalism” as a key political philosophy of his government, Tarique said no one should see themselves as a minority. “The state belongs to all of us. Our identity is that we are all Bangladeshis,” he said.
Quoting a PMO press release, he added: “Our government’s view is this, religion belongs to each individual, and everyone has the right to security.” “Regardless of religion or identity, Bengali and non-Bengali, believers and non-believers, all will enjoy equal rights in every field,” he said.
He said ensuring a state and society where citizens could freely practise their religion without obstruction remained a core duty of the government. “It has been proven many times in Bangladesh that only this philosophy can ensure coexistence among all races, religious communities and ethnic groups,” he said.
“So, none of you should ever think of yourselves as minorities. The state belongs to all of us. Every citizen is Bangladeshi,” he added.
“Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, together, with the sacrifice of millions of lives, we achieved independence. During the Liberation War, no one asked who followed which religion,” he said. “This independent Bangladesh belongs to all of us.”
The Buddhist community presented the PM with a commemorative crest and a replica of a Buddha statue.