Adviser Bidhan Ranjan for maintaining social harmony
Adviser Prof Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar today called upon people of all religions to build social harmony to accelerate the country's development and prosperity.
"We need to maintain communal harmony for the prosperity of the country as it is a necessary matter because if there is no peace and harmony, the country cannot make progress," he said at a gathering of devotees and worshipers after visiting the puja mandap at Sri Sri Sarbojonin Kali Mandir at Sanail on the occasion of Durga Puja.
The adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said, "Forbearance is a key element of our culture . . . Festivity is a part of our culture. People of different religions have been living side by side in our country for a long time. They are living like brothers, enjoying each other's festivals."
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Mentioning that the incumbent government would try to protect the rights of the citizens, he said the government has taken special measures to maintain this long-cherished tradition and no miscreants can deter the prevailing communal harmony and social cohesion of the country.
"We're going through a special time. We were in a dilemma as to how the Puja festival would be. The government was also concerned about holding the Durga Puja in a festive manner allowing the people to celebrate it with joy," the adviser added.
Noting that this government believes in an inclusive society as religion is a personal matter, he said state is for all and everyone is a citizen of the state where all citizens will enjoy equal benefits.
He added, "Our administration and law enforcement agencies have been working jointly so that miscreants cannot do any harm. The situation across the country is so far good. Hopefully, there will be no incident till the immersion of idols."
Puja Celebration Committee President Dr. Komol Kanti Biswas presided over the function while Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Manowar Hossain Molla and Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Bashir Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.
