Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman has said protecting the rights, security and interests of religious minorities is a constitutional responsibility of the opposition as well as the government.
He made the remarks while assuring Hindu community leaders of his support in addressing discrimination, deprivation and other problems they face in Bangladesh.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar conveyed the remarks to reporters on Wednesday following an exchange of views between the Jamaat Ameer and Hindu community leaders at his official residence on Minto Road in Dhaka.
Porwar said Hindu leaders had raised concerns over various forms of discrimination, deprivation and difficulties during the meeting and sought cooperation in resolving them.
In response, Shafiqur assured them of continued dialogue and support in addressing their concerns.
“Just as the government has a responsibility to speak up for the rights, security and interests of people of all religions in Bangladesh, it is also the constitutional duty of the opposition leader,” Porwar quoted the Jamaat Ameer as saying.
Representatives of several national Hindu organisations attended the meeting, including leaders of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Puja Udjapan Front, Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote and Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.
Porwar said the discussions also covered the safety of Hindu religious events, temples and puja mandaps following the events of 5 August 2024.
He claimed that Jamaat leaders and activists had helped protect temples and puja mandaps during that period, adding that Hindu leaders attending the meeting had praised their efforts.
Senior lawyer Subrata Chowdhury, who attended the meeting, said Hindu community leaders thanked the Jamaat Ameer for inviting them ahead of the Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations.
He said Shafiqur had urged people to work together in the country’s social, political and economic activities, regardless of political affiliation, opinion, religion or caste.
The Jamaat Ameer also called for collective efforts to advance national development through mutual empathy and cooperation, Subrata said.
Expressing satisfaction with Shafiqur’s remarks and initiative, Subrata said they hoped Jamaat-e-Islami would play an important role in addressing the community’s concerns in the future.
However, he stressed that political leaders’ statements on communal harmony must be reflected in reality.
Subrata said political leaders frequently described Bangladesh as a country of communal harmony during religious events.
He believed genuine communal harmony would be easier to establish if Muslim community leaders also promoted religious harmony during Friday sermons at mosques.
