Fakhrul visits temple, greets Hindu community on Durga Puja
Photo: PID
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said standing up against injustice, oppression, dishonesty, and persecution, and defeating them is the core philosophy of Durga Puja. In this country, evil forces have appeared repeatedly, and the people of Bangladesh have defeated them.
He made these remarks on Sunday while visiting the Ramna Kali Temple in Dhaka on the occasion of Durga Puja.
Fakhrul added, “At present, when conflict, violence, and malice prevail across the world, Sanatan religion followers in Bangladesh are able to celebrate their religious festival Durga Puja in a peaceful environment - this is a bright example of our communal harmony and mutual coexistence. I can say loudly the communal harmony that exists in Bangladesh, as far as I know, does not exist anywhere else in the world.”
Extending Durga Puja greetings to Sanatan religion followers, he noted, “Durga Puja is the main religious festival of Sanatan religion followers. This festival teaches justice, peace, harmony, and human welfare.”
Highlighting the history of the Ramna Kali Temple, Fakhrul said, “An attempt was made to destroy this in 1971. Later, it was destroyed in 1973. This misdeed was committed by those who talk about secularism.”
He noted that in 2001, at the initiative of Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and under the direction of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the Ramna Kali Temple was re-established, and since then, efforts have been made to restore it to its old tradition.
Calling upon everyone to remain united in protecting the country’s communal harmony, the President said, “Bangladesh’s communal harmony is always misinterpreted and subjected to propaganda. The government will work to resolve all problems of Sanatan religion followers.”
Present on stage at the time were the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Ethnic Minority Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar, Ramna Temple President Arpana Roy Das, and General Secretary Milton Baidya.
At the event, Ramna Temple member Subhash Chandra Das draped an uttariya over the president. Also present at the time were the President’s Military Secretary, Secretary, Press Secretary, and other senior officials and employees of Bangabhaban.
