US Ambassador Dan W Mozena on Thursday said cheap politicians and greedy land grabbers are a threat to a nation like Bangladesh.
“I call upon the government of Bangladesh, the civil society and most importantly the people of Bangladesh to reject these cheap politicians and land grabbers who seek to use religion to advance their self-serving agenda to acquire power and wealth,” he told a function in the city.
The US diplomat said the greedy owner of Rana Plaza grabbed land from a Hindu family and built on it the building complex that is now known around the world as the symbol of greed, corruption and land grabbing from minorities.
The Interfaith Dialogue Forum arranged the event, titled ‘Interfaith Dialogue on Religious Tolerance and Peace’, at Brac Inn Centre.
Mozena also called upon the people of Bangladesh to build on the values and aspirations shared by all Bangladeshis of all religions to live in peace as they seek to build a better future for themselves and their children.
He also urged the people of Bangladesh to sustain and strengthen the nation’s tradition of peace and harmony, living side by side with those who practise different faiths.
Mozena laid emphasis on building bridges of understanding among the nation’s various faiths.
“I call on each of you to use your influence, your power of persuasion to foster and build the peace and harmony that all Bangladeshis seek.”
The US envoy recalled the horrific destruction of Buddhist temples, monasteries in Ramu in September last, and said attacks against religious minorities are most jarring and disturbing.
He also recalled the attacks in February against Hindus in Noakhali, Comilla, Barisal, Satkhira, Gaibandha, and other places, and said such attacks are not in character with the spirit of Bangladesh- a spirit of tolerance, moderation, acceptance, a spirit that reflects the Bangladeshi traditional of living in peace and harmony.
“In my view, this violence against religious minorities is seldom, if ever, about religion. Rather, it’s about pursuit of power, financial gains, as cheap politicians and greedy land grabbers seek to advance their own selfish interests by creating and manipulating friction in the guise of religion to their own benefit,” he added.
Charge d’ Affaires of Vatican Embassy in Dhaka Massimo Catterin, Prof Kazi Nurul Islam of Dhaka University’s World Religions and Culture Department, among others, spoke at the event chaired by IFDF convener Dr Samia Huq.
Source: UNB Coonnect