Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged all citizens to strengthen
the democratic system and uphold the spirit of non-communalism.
She also asked them to remain alert and stand united so that no-one can toy with their fate.
The Prime Minister made the call while exchanging greetings with representatives of the Buddhist community at her official Ganobhaban residence on the occasion of the Prabarana Purnima.
Probarona Purnima, the second largest festival of the Buddhist community, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday with traditional religious festivity and solemnity. Also known as Ashwini Purnima, the festival marks conclusion of the three-month long seclusion of the monks inside their monasteries for self-edification and atonement of their defilement.
The highest Buddhist leader, Sangharaj Dharmasen Mohathero announced at the meeting that they will not release Fanus (paper lanterns) in the air in the Prabarana Purnima festival, dedicating them to the ruined Buddhist monasteries in Ramu and elsewhere in last month's communal attacks.
In the beginning of her address, the Prime Minister greeted the Buddhist leaders on the occasion of the Probarona Purnima saying that people may have different religions, but festival are for all.
About the celebrations of the Eid-ulAzha, Durga Puja and Prabarana Purnima—the major religious festivals of the Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists—taking place in a short time, Hasina said that her government was working tirelessly to create a congenial atmosphere so that the people irrespective of their religion, caste and creed can enjoy equal rights and practise their faiths with full freedom and in great festivity.
"We altogether made the country independent. Therefore people of all faiths will enjoy equal rights in the country and follow their respective religions freely, peacefully and with festivity."
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of establishing communal harmony in the country. "All religions give importance to humanity, preach the message of peace and respect for each other. But sometimes such suicidal incidents take place in our society which bring out beastliness and where there is no brotherhood."
Hasina said through the attacks on Buddhist temples and monasteries in Cox's Bazaar and Chittagong, the tradition of religious and cultural tolerance of hundreds of years was destroyed.
"Your grief is that you lost your religious establishments. But we lost the tradition of hundreds of years."
The Prime Minister said that no-one could think that gunpowder could be used in burning houses and monasteries to ashes.
She said she wept when she visited Ramu upazila recently to see for herself the violence-hit areas and talk the affected people.
She said more damages would have been incurred in the attacks had it not for the personnel of Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other law-enforcing agencies and the local leaders and activists of the Awami League, who prevented the religious fanatics on the night of Sep 29. "It was ensured that no girl was victimised (in the arson attacks)."
The Prime Minister said the Army and BGB were engaged in reconstructing the Buddhist temples and monasteries as well as houses of the victims.
She also referred to the success of her government in different sectors including economy.
Sanghanayak Suddhananda Mahathero and Chairman of Bangladesh Buddhist Association Ajit Ranjan Barua requested the Prime Minister to announce the day of Prabarana Purnima as a public holiday.
In response, Hasina pointed out that there was an optional leave for the government officials and employee from the Buddhist community on Prabarana Purnima day.
In the meeting, Industries Minister Dilip Barua sought the Prime Minister's assistance for the International Buddhism Conference to be held in Dhaka on Nov 9 and the Prime Minister assured him of support.
President of Buddhist Federation Biswapati Barua, Vice-Chairman of Buddhist Welfare Trust Sajal Talukdar Barua and Principal of Dhaka international Buddhist Temple Srimat Dharmamitra Mohathero also spoke on the occasion.
She also asked them to remain alert and stand united so that no-one can toy with their fate.
The Prime Minister made the call while exchanging greetings with representatives of the Buddhist community at her official Ganobhaban residence on the occasion of the Prabarana Purnima.
Probarona Purnima, the second largest festival of the Buddhist community, will be celebrated in Bangladesh on Monday with traditional religious festivity and solemnity. Also known as Ashwini Purnima, the festival marks conclusion of the three-month long seclusion of the monks inside their monasteries for self-edification and atonement of their defilement.
The highest Buddhist leader, Sangharaj Dharmasen Mohathero announced at the meeting that they will not release Fanus (paper lanterns) in the air in the Prabarana Purnima festival, dedicating them to the ruined Buddhist monasteries in Ramu and elsewhere in last month's communal attacks.
In the beginning of her address, the Prime Minister greeted the Buddhist leaders on the occasion of the Probarona Purnima saying that people may have different religions, but festival are for all.
About the celebrations of the Eid-ulAzha, Durga Puja and Prabarana Purnima—the major religious festivals of the Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists—taking place in a short time, Hasina said that her government was working tirelessly to create a congenial atmosphere so that the people irrespective of their religion, caste and creed can enjoy equal rights and practise their faiths with full freedom and in great festivity.
"We altogether made the country independent. Therefore people of all faiths will enjoy equal rights in the country and follow their respective religions freely, peacefully and with festivity."
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of establishing communal harmony in the country. "All religions give importance to humanity, preach the message of peace and respect for each other. But sometimes such suicidal incidents take place in our society which bring out beastliness and where there is no brotherhood."
Hasina said through the attacks on Buddhist temples and monasteries in Cox's Bazaar and Chittagong, the tradition of religious and cultural tolerance of hundreds of years was destroyed.
"Your grief is that you lost your religious establishments. But we lost the tradition of hundreds of years."
The Prime Minister said that no-one could think that gunpowder could be used in burning houses and monasteries to ashes.
She said she wept when she visited Ramu upazila recently to see for herself the violence-hit areas and talk the affected people.
She said more damages would have been incurred in the attacks had it not for the personnel of Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other law-enforcing agencies and the local leaders and activists of the Awami League, who prevented the religious fanatics on the night of Sep 29. "It was ensured that no girl was victimised (in the arson attacks)."
The Prime Minister said the Army and BGB were engaged in reconstructing the Buddhist temples and monasteries as well as houses of the victims.
She also referred to the success of her government in different sectors including economy.
Sanghanayak Suddhananda Mahathero and Chairman of Bangladesh Buddhist Association Ajit Ranjan Barua requested the Prime Minister to announce the day of Prabarana Purnima as a public holiday.
In response, Hasina pointed out that there was an optional leave for the government officials and employee from the Buddhist community on Prabarana Purnima day.
In the meeting, Industries Minister Dilip Barua sought the Prime Minister's assistance for the International Buddhism Conference to be held in Dhaka on Nov 9 and the Prime Minister assured him of support.
President of Buddhist Federation Biswapati Barua, Vice-Chairman of Buddhist Welfare Trust Sajal Talukdar Barua and Principal of Dhaka international Buddhist Temple Srimat Dharmamitra Mohathero also spoke on the occasion.
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