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Wednesday | October 14, 2026 | Dhaka

PM vows equal security for citizens of all faiths

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:01 AM, 13 October 2026  Updated: 10:35 PM, 12 October 2026

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday pledged to protect the rights and security of all citizens regardless of religion, saying his responsibility as head of government was to serve people equally.

“I will try my best, within my capacity, to ensure everyone’s security, not on the basis of religion, but as human beings,” he said.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Hindu community leaders from the Dhaka-17 constituency at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. Representatives from eight temples in the constituency met the Prime Minister to invite him to their Durga Puja celebrations.

The leaders praised government initiatives taken for the welfare of the Hindu community since the BNP assumed office. They also thanked the government for extending the Puja holiday and increasing financial assistance.

Responding to their comments, Tarique said the government had taken steps within its capacity during the short period since assuming office and was working to address other issues.
“This proves that we have good intentions,” he said.

Recalling the Liberation War and subsequent democratic movements, the Prime Minister said people of different faiths, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, had fought together during the Liberation War.

He added that people from different religious and ethnic communities had also joined the 1990 mass uprising and the 2024 movement.

“When we did not consider religion at critical moments in the nation’s history, why should we consider it in other matters? We liberated the country together and took part together in the movement to establish democracy,” he said.

Referring to the persecution of political activists from different religious backgrounds during what he described as the fascist Awami League regime, Tarique said Hindu activists had faced repression alongside Muslim activists.

“There was no distinction based on religion,” he said.
The Prime Minister described his position as an opportunity to serve the people and reiterated his commitment to protecting citizens regardless of their religious identity.

“As a citizen of this country and as a human being, you have your rights and entitlements. As head of government, I am trying to fulfil my duty,” he said.

He added that he would make every effort, guided by a sense of duty and accountability, to ensure that citizens received what they were entitled to.

During the meeting, the Hindu community leaders said they had been living peacefully since the national election and had not encountered any problems.

They said the government’s actions since taking office had reinforced their view that Hindu community members had not made a mistake by voting for the BNP, and pledged continued support and cooperation.

Among those present were BNP Executive Committee member Ramesh Dutta; Gulshan-Banani Sarbojanin Puja Foundation President Alok Saha; Baridhara DOHS Puja Committee President Jiban Kanai Das; British Chandra Karmakar; Narayan Chandra Saha; Pradip Chandra Das; Shikha Rani Das; Shyamal Kumar Das; and Rajib Kumar Acharya.

Abdur Rahman Sani, a representative of Dhaka-17 MP Tarique Rahman, and Banani Society Treasurer Shafiquzzaman Ratan also attended.