Hindus no longer ‘vote bank’ of fascist forces: Salahuddin  

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday called for religious harmony, coexistence and equal rights for all citizens, saying the belief that followers of Sanatan Dharma are merely a “vote bank” of the fascist forces of the past was shattered in the 13th National Parliament elections.

Speaking at the Janmashtami rally, started from Palashi intersection in the Dhaka University area he said, the Constitution of Bangladesh has given the state the responsibility to ensure religious practice and religious freedom for people of all faiths, and the state will fulfil that responsibility.

“No discrimination can be made on the basis of religion. This is also stated in the Constitution. Religious freedom, freedom of worship, freedom of religious leaders and the freedom to establish places of worship for all religions have been ensured,” he said.

Salahuddin Ahmed said the government does not want these rights to remain only on paper or in the Constitution. “In reality, we will ensure this harmony and freedom. We have declared that,” he said.

He said people may have different religious identities, but religious identity should not be the main identity of citizens.

“We want to live here as citizens. All citizens of Bangladesh, whether Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians or members of ethnic groups, will freely practise their respective religions and observe religious and cultural traditions. But as a nationality, we will all remain citizens of Bangladesh,” he said.

The Home Minister said harmony should be the common identity of all citizens.

“That is why we say, our leader said-Bangladesh first. If Bangladesh comes first, then we are Bangladeshis first. After that come our religious, cultural and ethnic identities. Bangladeshis first and Bangladesh for everyone," he said.

He also said no citizen should identify themselves as a minority in independent Bangladesh. Everyone should identify themselves on the basis of citizenship, not religion.

"All citizens are equal and have equal rights in this country," Salahuddin Ahmed said.

He called for maintaining religious and social harmony and peace among people.

"What will we say from today? We will maintain religious harmony. We will maintain social harmony and peace. No one needs to mention the word communal harmony anymore. It will be religious harmony, coexistence and social peace and harmony," he said.