Doing everything to ensure communal harmony in country: Mohd Khalid Hossain
Calling India as Bangladesh's "best neighbour" which had helped the country "immensely" in gaining independence, Abul Fayez Muhammad Khalid Hossain - recently appointed as the Advisor for Religious Affairs in the interim government - on Thursday said that "work has begun" to take strict action against criminals involved in several incidents of violence and vandalism against the minority communities, especially Hindus, since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5.
India is our neighbouring country and we want to maintain peace and tranquility in our country with the goodwill of India," Hossain told IANS in an exclusive interview as the interim government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus continues to receive a massive flak from all corners of the world for failing to provide security to the minorities, majorly Hindus, in the country.
The Bangladeshi government has condemned attacks on minority communities and places of worship, calling them "heinous" and "criminal".
We got our country back after great efforts and people from all religions sacrificed and shed their blood in the movement during Bangladesh's liberation. We cannot let it go to waste. It is a secular country and we have to nurture this spirit and ensure communal harmony in Bangladesh.
#Bangladesh #Dhaka #AbulFayezMuhammadKhalidHossai #SheikhHasina #India
India is our neighbouring country and we want to maintain peace and tranquility in our country with the goodwill of India," Hossain told IANS in an exclusive interview as the interim government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus continues to receive a massive flak from all corners of the world for failing to provide security to the minorities, majorly Hindus, in the country.
The Bangladeshi government has condemned attacks on minority communities and places of worship, calling them "heinous" and "criminal".
We got our country back after great efforts and people from all religions sacrificed and shed their blood in the movement during Bangladesh's liberation. We cannot let it go to waste. It is a secular country and we have to nurture this spirit and ensure communal harmony in Bangladesh.
#Bangladesh #Dhaka #AbulFayezMuhammadKhalidHossai #SheikhHasina #India
Transcript
00:00Yes, I would like to say that some criminals are trying to take advantage of the anti-discrimination
00:13student movement by attacking the homes of minorities.
00:19The religious ministry has already been set up a hotline number for the victims of such
00:30attacks.
00:31Those who are involved in these heinous attacks on places of worship are criminals.
00:44Immediate action will be taken against them and they will be brought to book.
00:52We will make an announcement from the ministry to set up an inquiry committee.
01:01We have issued letters to the different deputy commissioners of the districts to send a report
01:13of vandalism, reports of attacks, reports of minorities' persecution as early as possible.
01:27We got our country back after the Great Liberation War.
01:35People of all religions participated in the war, sacrificed and shed their blood for their
01:43liberation.
01:44We cannot let it go to the West.
01:47It is a secular country and we have to nurture this spirit.
01:53We want to ensure communal harmony in Bangladesh.
01:58We have been praying together for a long time now and there is no communal violence here.
02:11Although there may be some isolated incidents, our government is careful to retain communal
02:21harmony within the country.
02:27We have directed the Imams of Hilat Mosque to talk about the rights of non-Muslims and
02:38to push for preserving their places of worship during their sermons.
02:46We have asked the Imams to give motivational speeches to protect property and places of worship.
02:53The work has already begun.
02:56Since the beginning of this movement, we have noticed that the Madrasa student, a student
03:03of the Religious Institute and their student teachers of other institutions are guarding
03:09these places of worship.
03:12I have seen them guarding places of worship in Dakshini Mandir in Dhaka.
03:22We are ready to support our minority people in peaceful living in Bangladesh.
03:38Our chief advisor also visited Dakshini Temple and talked to the priest, talked to the Purohits
03:48about this matter.
03:50Our country is a non-communal country.
03:55According to our constitution, every man, irrespective of religion, caste and creed,
04:06has the right to follow the religion, preach the religion and adhere to the teachings of
04:16the religion.
04:17We are equal.
04:19The Hindus, the Muslims, the Christians, all rights are equal.
04:25We are working, we are going ahead to consolidate our country.
04:36There is no discrimination, religious discrimination.
04:41Some miscreants are indulging and vandalizing the places of worship.
04:51We are ready to fight against these criminals, those who are responsible for this, for the
05:06vandalism, for the attack.
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