Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government does not want conflict, terrorism and militancy, rather it wants the people of all faiths to live with self-confidence and dignity.
“No religion supports conflict, terrorism, militancy and destructive acts. But some human beings harbour ill intention…we want the people to be free from bad intention and honour each other. We believe it can ensure honour and dignity for all,” she told Hindu devotees while visiting the Durga Puja Mandops at Dhakeswari National Temple and Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission.
The PM said the people of every religion are living together in this country with the spirit of fraternity. “You are the sons of the soil and so you will live here with self-confidence and dignity.”
Greeting the members of the Hindu community on the occasion of Sharadiya Durgotsav, she said religion is the affair of individuals, but festivals are for all.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder, Kajal Devnath, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad; Jayanta Kumar Dey, general secretary of the parishad; and Narayan Saha Moni, general secretary of Mohanagar Sarbojonin Puja Committee, spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbojonin Puja Committee greeted Hasina by presenting her with flower bouquets at Dhakeswari National Temple.
The officials of Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission also congratulated the premier by presenting her with flower bouquets at the outset of the function there.
MAHA ASHTAMI TODAY
The Hindu devotees will celebrate Maha Ashtami Puja today on the third day of the Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindus.
Maha Ashtami, also known as Maha Durga Ashtami, is celebrated to mark the victory of the Goddess Durga over Mahishasura (the buffalo-demon from Hindu mythology).
Thousands of devotees are expected to throng the puja mandaps to worship the Goddess.
On Maha Ashtami, nine small pots are installed and nine Shaktis (power) of Durga are invoked in them. All nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped during the ritual.
