The government will not tolerate any attempts to disturb the religious harmony in the country, said Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser.
His statement came in response to concerns raised over a proposal to build a mosque on the summit of Chandranath Hill in Sitakunda, Chattogram, which caused unrest among the Hindu community. The government has made it clear that no such initiative will be undertaken at this sacred site for Hindus.
Addressing the issue at a meeting held at the Rail Bhaban on Wednesday (August 27), Shafiqul Alam remarked, “Chandranath is one of the most revered places for the Hindu community in Bangladesh. For thousands of years, this location has been a symbol of spiritual significance, housing over 400 temples.” He assured that the local authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sitakunda, and intelligence agencies, have been instructed to monitor the situation closely. “Any attempts to disrupt religious harmony will not be tolerated,” he emphasized.
To address the concerns, the government has already initiated discussions with local officials, ensuring that any existing issues will be resolved swiftly. Additionally, Shafiqul Alam announced that renovation works for easier access to the temple at Chandranath Hill will be carried out without delay.
In the same meeting, Railway Advisor Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan presented a proposal for the allocation of railway land for several religious institutions, including the Khilkhit Railway Jam-e-Masjid, Al-Noor Jam-e-Masjid, and Khilkhit Sarbojonin Shree Shree Durga Mandir. Other officials present included the Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Bidhan Ranjan Ray Poddar, and the Religious Affairs Advisor to the Interim Government, Dr. A. F. M. Khalid Hossain.
On the matter of land allocation for religious purposes, Shafiqul Alam explained, “There is no provision in the railway law for allocating land to religious institutions. However, we have amended this law to allow for permanent land allocation for our Hindu brothers and sisters, as well as for mosques.”