Chittagong Correspondent/

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury commented that there is no minority in Bangladesh. He made this comment while addressing the chief guest at the clothing distribution and discussion meeting organized by Chittagong District Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Students and Youth Front on the occasion of Autumn Durga Puja on Friday afternoon. The meeting was held at the Metropolitan Union of Journalists in the city’s Lovelanes.

At that time, he also commented that BNP does not play politics on religion. Regarding the security of the Puja Mandap, he said, “Now I hear that the Juba League and Chhatra League have been given the responsibility of peace and order in the Puja Mandap.” Where did the country’s police force go? That means the state apparatus and police force have no responsibility. Those who break the idols of Hindus, encroach on the place, have been given the responsibility of guarding the shrine. That means the fox has been assigned the responsibility of guarding the chicken.

Amir Khosru said in the meeting, “There is no such thing as a minority in Bangladesh.” We are all one, we are all Bangladeshis. The constitution of the country has given equal rights to all. BNP holds that. We don’t do politics on religion. Those who politicize religion do not hold it. He who does not hold it has to be repeatedly asked to observe it. All those who live within the borders of Bangladesh are Bangladeshis. So there is no Hindu or Muslim identity politics here.

Pointing out that the rights to live in a democratic environment are not being enjoyed in the true sense of the present undemocratic government, the former minister said, ‘Awami League leaders and activists have occupied the houses and properties of the Hindu community at various times. Awami League leaders and activists have captured 80 percent of the land belonging to Hindus in the country. They vandalized idols during Durga Puja. But BNP was always on the side of people of all communities. People of all communities have been living in harmony and brotherhood in this country for ages. We have fought together at different times to protect our freedom and rights. I want to build this country as a truly non-communal and democratic Bangladesh.

Under the chairmanship of Engineer Sanjoy Chakraborty Manik, President of Hindu Buddhist Christian Students and Youth Front and conducted by General Secretary Arjun Kumar Nath, Advisor to BNP Chairperson and Convener of Chittagong North District BNP, Golam Akbar Khondkar was the special guest in the meeting. Amlendu Das Apu, joint religion secretary of the party, was the main speaker. Chittagong North District BNP Joint Convener Professor Yunus Chowdhury, Nurul Amin, Chittagong Metropolitan BNP Joint Convener Shafiqur Rahman Swapan and others spoke.