Reopens Buddhist temples in Ramu
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina address an inaugural ceremony of the reconstructed Ramu Central Seema Bihar at Ramu of Cox’s Bazar in Chittagong on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday called upon the people irrespective of caste, creed and religion to work together to protect the communal harmony being nurtured in the country for thousands of years.
“I always say that religion is personal, but the festivals are for all. Peace, friendship and harmony are our pride,” she said adding that the communal harmony being nurtured here for thousands of years should be protected at any cost.
The prime minister said this after inaugurating the reconstructed Ramu Central Seema Bihar which was damaged and burnt by criminals on September 29, 2012.
At the directives of the prime minister, Army Headquarters, 17 Engineering Construction Battalion of Special Works Organisation, Chittagong reconstructed 19 damaged monasteries and temples within eight months of the incident.
Hasina said Bangladesh has been recognised as a peaceful abode form ancient age for her moderate religious values, tolerance and fraternity among people.
“People of all religions fought together for the independence under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said urging all to follow the path of Bangbandhu to build a hunger and poverty free and peaceful Bangladesh.
The prime minister said as a Muslim majority country, it is our responsibility to ensure security and safety of the minorities. If they are tortured here, minority Muslims in other countries might face similar intimidation,” she noted.
Hasina said the incident of Ramu is a shame for us. The day was horrible one and we could overcome the situation with united efforts of the all, she said adding “such a blow is totally unacceptable as we want to build Bangladesh as a nation of communal harmony in South Asia.”
Principal of Seema Bihar Satya Priyo Mohathero and General Secretary of Seema Bihar Tarun Barua also spoke on the occasion.
Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, PM’ s Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the PM visited Bimukti Bidarshan Bhaban Bihar at North Mithachhari, Ramu Moitree Bihar and Lal Ching Moitree Bihar at Ramu Chowmuhuni.
Ambassadors and high commissioners of the USA, Russia, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan and diplomats from South Korea, China and Australia were also present there.
The prime minister said once world famous monasteries like Somapuri Mohabihar, Basu Bihar, Holud Bihar, Seetacoat Bihar, Shalban Bihar were built in Bangladesh, which were the centre of practicing knowledge.
Noted scholar Atish Dipankar, Shil Bhadra and Shanta Rakkhit were born in this country, she said.
Pointing out the government support for renovation of different monasteries of the Buddhists community in the country, the prime minister said the present government has given equal attention to development of mosques, temples, churches and pagodas.
She said land has been allocated for construction of a Bouddha Bihar at Uttara in Dhaka, while Dharmarazik Boudhha Bihar has been given seven katha more land.
A total of 12 monasteries and temples in Ramu and seven monasteries and temples in Ukhia were damaged massively at the instigation of some criminals on September 29 last year.
While visiting the place of occurrences, the prime minister on October 8 last year gave assurance to reconstruct and repair of the damaged monasteries.
She thanked members of Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) for their efforts to complete the reconstruction and repair works of beautiful Buddhist monasteries and temples at 19 different places within eight months of the incident.
Traditional and famous architectural designs of the Buddhist community have been added to these Buddhist monasteries and temples during repair,” she said.
She also thanked local people and the administration of Ramu and Ukhia upazilas for their sincere cooperation and unequivocal support to this end.
Hasina hoped that reconstruction and repair of the monasteries and temples would help healing the wounds created in the minds of the Buddhist community after their damage.
“I firmly believe that you will get back confidence in the government as we have stood beside you soon after the incident,” she said adding that police have already submitted charge-sheet in the case filed in this connection and the culprits would get due punishment.
Source: The Daily Star
