Staff Reporter :
The Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has said that no government has the right to deprive citizens of their fundamental constitutional rights.
He made this remark while visiting the Dhakeshwari Temple on Tuesday.
Dr. Yunus believes that the entire Bengali nation is one big family.
The responsibility of the government is to ensure equal rights and dignity for all citizens. He also commented that there is no alternative to unity in defeating evil forces.
He is scheduled to leave for New York, USA on September 22, to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Therefore, he will not be present during the puja celebrations.
The Chief Adviser assured that everyone is a citizen of this country, and no one will be discriminated against.
Addressing all, he said, “Remind yourself that you are a citizen of this country, and you must be given the rights and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution.”
He expressed hope that through unity, Bangladesh will move forward on the path of progress and prosperity.
Earlier on Monday, the Chief Adviser had urged everyone to remain alert so that no opportunity for any kind of conspiracy surrounding Durga Puja arises.
Yesterday afternoon at the state guesthouse Jamuna, Hindu leaders met the Chief Adviser.
At that time, leaders of various Puja Celebration Councils invited the Chief Adviser to visit the upcoming Durga Puja mandaps.
Professor Yunus said, “Although I always wish to meet you, I don’t often get the chance. Once a year during Puja, we get the opportunity to meet in person and talk.”
During the meeting, he inquired about preparations and overall arrangements for Durga Puja.
Hindu religious leaders informed him that compared to last year, more than one thousand new Puja mandaps have been added. Across the country, the work of setting up mandaps is progressing in full swing.
The leaders said that the Religious Affairs Adviser maintains regular communication with them and visits temples.
The administration is providing maximum cooperation to make Durga Puja festive. They expressed hope that, as in the previous year, the Puja would be celebrated smoothly this time as well.
At the time, Joyanta Kumar Deb, President of the Metropolitan Puja Committee, thanked the Chief Adviser especially for allocating land from the Ministry of Railways for a permanent Durga temple.
He said: “This is a historic event. For this, I thank you especially. Since you took responsibility, you have been keeping regular contact with us. Like last year, this year too we have received two days of holiday for Puja. For this as well, we thank you.
Last year, just after returning to the country on August 8, you visited the Dhakeshwari Temple and said we are all one family. Your words deeply inspired us.”
Basudev Dhar, President of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council, said: “Last year, while visiting the Dhakeshwari Temple during Durga Puja, you said that we do not want a country where Puja will be celebrated under strict security guard protection. For the first time, we heard such a statement from a head of government.
We also agree with your words – we too want everyone to cooperate in this festival, and for cordial relations to prevail among all people of the country.”
S. N. Tarun Dey, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front, said: “During your tenure, you have set an example of communal harmony in the country.
We have observed that for the past year, especially on social media, a lot of falsehoods and fake news have been spread.
Under your leadership, we wish for the well-being of all people of Bangladesh regardless of religion, caste, or ethnicity.”
At the meeting, Religious Affairs Adviser A. F. M. Khalid Hossain said: “The Ministry of Religious Affairs represents all religions. Through the Welfare Trust, we ensure welfare programs.”
He mentioned several supports provided to religious institutions. He said that a temple is being built in Tahirpur, Sunamganj, with the ministry’s assistance. In another temple, stairs for a bathroom are being constructed. “We are also providing assistance to underprivileged temples, pagodas, churches, as well as poor widows and orphans,” he added.
At the time, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, along with Hindu community leaders, was present.
