Dhaka, Oct. 20 -- Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said that religion is a personal matter, but the country belongs to everyone, as he vowed to ensure equal dignity and rights for every citizen of the country.
Rahman, who became prime minister earlier this year after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a decisive victory in the general elections after a 20-year gap, also hoped that religion would not create any barriers between people.
"This country belongs to all of us. From today, let us pledge to work together to build Bangladesh we aspire to, regardless of whether we are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists or Christians. Let this be our aspiration today," Rahman was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency.
Speaking at a roadside gathering in the Choupothi area of Taraganj, while on his way to visit Durga Puja venues in Rangpur, Rahman also said that religion is a personal matter, but the country belongs to all of us.
"The equal dignity and rights of every citizen of this country must be ensured," Rahman was quoted as saying by Prothom Alo newspaper.
Rahman, who attended an event marking Durga Puja at the historic Radha Gobinda Dharmasabha Temple in Rangpur on the occasion of Maha Navami, said his government wants to work for all regions and all people, according to a Bangladeshi official.
"When we fought for the independence of this country in 1971, we did not consider anyone's religion. People belonging to different religions, holding different views, and representing different social and professional backgrounds fought on the battlefield to liberate the country," Rahman said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.