Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday called upon people of all faiths to work together, shoulder to shoulder, to build Bangladesh, emphasizing that every citizen enjoys equal rights in the country regardless of their religious identity.
"This country belongs to you, and this country belongs to me. Let us all work together, shoulder to shoulder, to build the country," he said while addressing members of the Hindu community during a visit to the historic Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital on the occasion of Durga Puja.
He was accompanied by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Social Welfare Minister Prof. Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain, according to the Prime Minister's Assistant Press Secretary, KM Nazmul Haque.
Stressing that the state belongs to everyone irrespective of religion, Tarique Rahman noted that while individuals may practice different faiths, all citizens possess equal rights, and the government bears the fundamental responsibility of ensuring their security.
"Religion may be different for you and me, but the state belongs to all of us. In Bangladesh, you have rights just as I do, and you have duties towards the country just as I do," he stated.
The Prime Minister reiterated that the administration is committed to safeguarding every citizen, while citizens share a collective responsibility to care for one another and collaborate to drive the nation forward.
"We are all children of this country and proud Bangladeshis. Above all, we are human beings—this is our foremost identity. Everyone present here is a Bangladeshi," he concluded.
