Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday called on people of all religions to work together to build a Bangladesh they aspire to see, saying the country belongs equally to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.
“Just as people of all religions united to free the country in 1971, we want to build Bangladesh together, with people of all faiths,” he said at a roadside rally at Paglapir on his way to Rangpur to visit a Durga Puja mandap on Maha Navami.
“From today, let us pledge that this country belongs to all of us — Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We will all work hard together to build the country into the Bangladesh we aspire to see,” the prime minister said.
Tarique said voters had entrusted the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the responsibility of governing the country in the 12 February parliamentary election.
Since taking office, the government had been working to support people from all walks of life, he said.
Highlighting government initiatives, Tarique said agricultural loans of up to Tk10,000 had been waived for farmers, while the Family Card and Farmers’ Card programmes had been introduced.
The government had also introduced monthly allowances for imams, muezzins and religious leaders of other faiths, he said.
Tarique said his government was working to support people across different professions and sections of society.
Referring to Durga Puja, the Hindu community’s biggest religious festival, he reiterated his call for people of all faiths to unite in building the country.
Earlier, the prime minister travelled to Rangpur by road from Saidpur Airport after arriving from Dhaka aboard a military aircraft.
Hundreds of BNP leaders, activists and supporters lined both sides of the road at Taraganj and Paglapir to welcome him.
Tarique waved to the crowds from his motorcade and briefly addressed gatherings at both locations.
