Bangla | Epaper

BANGLA EPAPER 📍 Dhaka 📅 Thursday | 16 July 2026, 1 Srabon 1433

HEADLINE

● Protesting HSC students postpone street program over public suffering ● Govt polls schedule likely by Sept-Oct: Home Minister ● Chargesheets to be filed only against those found guilty: DB chief ● Ziaur Rahman assassination: Fugitive Maj Mozaffar arrested in Dhaka after 45yrs ● 383 journos faced harassment, attacks in six months: HRSS ● 10 workers burnt in Ctg salt factory fire, seven in critical condition ● Low-pressure area likely to intensify; warning signal remains in force at seaports

State Minister calls for religious harmony

Published : Thursday, 16 July, 2026 at 9:06 PM

Observer Online Report

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad on Thursday said people of all religions in Bangladesh would enjoy equal rights and opportunities, stressing that the government remains committed to upholding communal harmony and inclusiveness.

Speaking as the chief guest at a Rath Yatra festival organised at the Jalashi Chanpara Temple in Panchagarh, Azad said followers of Sanatan Dharma and other religions would receive the same opportunities as Muslims.

"We respect all religions and embrace people of every faith. The present government wants to move the country forward by ensuring the participation of people from all religious communities in the spirit of secularism," he said.

Quoting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the state minister said the government was working towards building a non-communal Bangladesh under the slogan, "Religion belongs to individuals, Bangladesh belongs to everyone."

He also noted that many Muslims had joined the Rath Yatra celebrations alongside members of the Hindu community, describing it as a reflection of Bangladesh's long-standing tradition of religious harmony.

"We must remain vigilant so that no extremist group can create divisions in this unity among people of different faiths," he added.

The programme was presided over by Debananda Damodar Dinabandhu, president of the Radhagobinda Namhatta Temple. Among those present were Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Mosammat Shukria Parvin, Superintendent of Police Abu Saim, district BNP Convener Zahirul Islam Kachchu, municipal BNP leader Abdullah Ranik, and Srimat Bhaktibinoy Swami Maharaj, along with thousands of devotees.

A Rath Yatra procession was later brought out from the Chanpara Temple.

Earlier in the day, Azad also attended Rath Yatra celebrations at Debiganj Upazila Temple and the Sipaipara Sannyasi Temple in Boda Upazila.

-HIS

Also read

Govt working for hassle-free air services for expatriates: Afroza

Excess preservatives: BFSA orders withdrawal of food products of three companies from the market

171 more Bangladeshis return from Libya

DNCC announces budget of Tk 4,527.74 crore for fiscal year 2026-27

Shared commitment to further strengthen Bangladesh-Europe partnership

Financial anxiety of journalists must go for ethical practice: Swapon

Mirza Fakhrul fell ill while delivering a speech at the Rath Yatra

Police must perform duties as servants of people: IGP

Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], ‍[email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296

🔝