Acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Rahman on Wednesday stressed the need for maximum caution and preparedness to prevent any attempts to destabilise the country during the Durga Puja celebrations.
鈥楢lthough autocracy has fallen, we have seen clear examples that their conspiracies have not ended. So, ahead of this year鈥檚 Durga Puja, we must remain the highest alert and prepared to resist any such attempts,鈥� he said in a statement issued ahead of the festival.
Tarique urged all BNP units and affiliated organisations to provide full support, working with people at all levels, to ensure that the Durga Puja festival of the Hindus would be celebrated smoothly.
鈥榃e respect the religious rights of every citizen in this country. We are committed to maintaining religious harmony in Bangladesh, and our stand against any attempt to destroy it is firm and clear,鈥� he observed.
The BNP leader also extended his greetings to Hindus of the country, saying, 鈥楾he largest religious festival of the Hindus, Durga Puja, is approaching. I convey my sincere best wishes to all my brothers and sisters observing this festival.鈥�
Traditionally, he said, Durga Puja had been celebrated peacefully with the cooperation of all communities, setting a unique example of religious harmony in the country.
Tarique warned that in recent times, some beneficiaries of the previous autocratic regime had tried to disrupt this long-established sectarian harmony, creating tension and conflict during Durga Puja through wrongful acts for unethical political purposes.
He reaffirmed his party鈥檚 commitment to protecting religious rights and resisting any efforts to undermine them.
Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindus, will formally begin across the country on September 28.
