Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said all citizens of the country have equal rights to enjoy every sphere of life.
“In socioeconomic sector, in education, in healthcare and in performing respective religious rituals all have the equal rights,” she said.
The Prime Minister came up with the statement while exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community at her official residence on Tuesday on the occasion of Janmashtami, report UNB, BSS.
Sheikh Hasina said that the people of all faiths made supreme sacrifice during the great Liberation War of 1971 under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“People brought independence in exchange for their blood, so this country is for the people of all religions,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that as the government it is her responsibility to ensure equal rights for all people of the country.
Pointing out the law enacted by her government for the Hindu community, Hasina said her government has done this to facilitate the transfer of property of the Hindu community members to their close relatives without any tax.
She said the government always tried to make sure that every festival of all religions is observed in a festive mood.
"This is the beauty of Bangladesh where people from all religions participated in every religious festival," she said.
Giving importance to maintaining communal and religious harmony in the country, Hasina said every religion preaches peace, fraternity and tolerance and it is the important aspect of religion.
In her speech, the Prime Minister accused the then BNP-Jamaat government of perpetrating the barbaric August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
"Such a heinous act cannot take place in the country without their patronage," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said in the world history, such a heinous act did not take place in broad daylight.
“The grenades that are used in the battle field were hurled on the rally to eliminate the Awami League leaders,” she said.
"Not only the August 21 grenade attack, numerous such incidents happened after the 2001 elections," the Prime Minister said.
Sheikh Hasina alleged that terrorism, militancy, drug abuse and smuggling of arms were regular phenomena in the country during the BNP-Jamaat misrule.
She said the Awami League leaders and workers fell victims of the BNP-Jamaat killing and torture on one side, while the minority communities, especially the Hindu community, became victims on the other.
The Awami League president said attacks were also made on other communities like Muslims, Christians and the Buddhists as well as the mosques, temples, churches and pagodas, she said, adding such an anarchic situation continued throughout Bangladesh during BNP-Jamaat regime.
The Prime Minister said the Awami League government after assuming office in 2009 made efforts so that peace exists in the country and the venom of terrorism, militancy and communalism cannot spread.
Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Committee, Janmashtami Udjapan Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbojonin Puja Committee also spoke on the occasion.
Leaders of Janmashtami Udjapan Parishad, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee greeted the Prime Minister by presenting bouquets to her.
Earlier, a one-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage.
