October 12, 2024

Message of Mr. Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of BNP, on the Occasion of Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami 

"On the occasion of the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami, I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all followers of the Hindu faith. I wish them happiness, peace, and well-being.

For ages, Durga Puja has been the most significant religious festival for the Hindu community, not only in Bangladesh but across the world. The bloom of Kashful and the first hints of winter in Bangladesh herald the arrival of this festival in autumn. It has been celebrated with grandeur for several centuries. In Bangladesh, Durga Puja has always been observed in a festive atmosphere, and festivals symbolize the emergence of light from the depths of darkness.

No matter the religion, the space of a festival is open to all people. The gates of festival grounds are never closed. Any religious festival fosters close bonds between people, evokes compassion, and nurtures a sense of brotherhood. The core message of all religions is patriotism, peace, and human welfare. In the face of a brutal war of violence, it is our collective duty to strive for the establishment of peace and equality in society. The fundamental message of Durga Puja is to defeat the demons of violence, greed, and anger, and to establish heavenly peace in society, ensuring justice and equality for all. The inherent demand of this worship is to fight against those who seek to destroy society and human civilization through oppression and vengeance, aiming to establish misrule. We must embrace this message and share the joy of the Durga Puja festival with everyone. The scope of the festival is not narrow; rather, it is open and universal.

I firmly believe that there must be inviolable provisions ensuring equal rights and protections for every citizen of Bangladesh, irrespective of whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or Christian. Our country, as a united nation, must include all communities within its people. Together, we should create a collective society where the safety of everyone, regardless of religion or race, is upheld as an exemplary standard.

I extend my warmest greetings to all those involved in this joyous Durga Puja festival. May this festival bring prosperity, harmony, and peace to every home and foster mutual goodwill and solidarity among all communities.

In this country, we are all Bangladeshis regardless of religion or race—let this be our greatest identity. I wish for the complete success of this year's Durga Puja festival."

(Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi)

Senior Joint Secretary General  

Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP