Government Committed to Religious Freedom and Equal Rights for All: President

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the current democratic government is committed to ensuring religious freedom and equal rights for every citizen in Bangladesh, a country known for its communal harmony.

In a message issued on Friday, October 16, ahead of the Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations, the president extended his warm greetings and congratulations to Hindu communities in Bangladesh and abroad.

He said the government was supporting the management, renovation and development of Hindu religious institutions and places of worship, alongside institutions serving other religious communities. Monthly honorariums for Hindu priests were being provided, while efforts were underway to strengthen the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust and improve coordination and effectiveness in religious welfare grants and programmes.

Describing Durga Puja as the principal religious festival of Bengali Hindus, the president said the arrival of Goddess Durga amid the clear autumn sky, white kash flowers and a festive atmosphere inspires new hope and a commitment to well-being among devotees. He said the festival symbolises the defeat of evil and the triumph of truth, beauty and goodness, as well as the enduring call for justice and humanity in the face of injustice, falsehood and inhumanity.

Fakhrul noted that Hindu communities in Bangladesh had celebrated Durga Puja with a festive spirit for generations, making it a distinctive example of communal harmony. He said the festival was not only a religious occasion for Hindus but was also deeply connected with the country’s social culture and heritage. It brings people from all walks of life together, fostering mutual compassion, goodwill and brotherhood.

The president urged all concerned to ensure that people from every religious community could observe their respective rituals and festivals freely, safely and without fear.

He added that all religions teach truth, justice, restraint and service to humanity. He called on people to follow their religious teachings while dedicating themselves to the welfare of others.

Ensuring that no one faces discrimination, deprivation or insecurity because of their religion, ethnicity or communal identity is a responsibility shared by the state and society, he said.

The president also urged people to share the joy of Durga Puja with disadvantaged, vulnerable and underprivileged communities. He expressed hope that the festival would bring happiness, peace and prosperity to Hindu families and that its messages of humanity, justice and well-being would reach every home, beyond all divisions.

He wished success for all Durga Puja programmes being organised at home and abroad.