The annual five-day Shardiya Durga Utsav is being celebrated in temples and temporary pavilions across the country from Thursday.
The Prime Minister also visited Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, visited the puja pavilion there and exchanged greetings with people from the Hindu community.
Addressing the devotees there, he said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has included equal rights for all religious faiths in the Constitution so that they can practice and celebrate their respective religions and festivals.
“And the Father of the Nation had ensured this”, he said, adding that those who seized power after Bangabandhu’s assassination had destroyed the non-communal spirit of Bangladesh.
He also repealed secularism from the Constitution of Bangladesh through martial law, but after the Awami League took power, it restored secularism by amending the constitution.
“We have ensured freedom to practice all religions,” he said.
Sheikh Hasina said, “Now, you (Hindu community) are celebrating Durga Puja peacefully across the country during the Awami League period, but once you were not able to do so.”
He assured that his government will stand with the people of the Hindu community so that they can enjoy their due rights.
She said, “You are born on this earth. Therefore, we all will live on this land enjoying all the due rights. The least I can say is that since we are in power, we will definitely assure that Are there and will be with you.” ,