Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that every citizen of Bangladesh is entitled to equal dig-nity and rights, saying that no one should face discrimination on the basis of religion, ideology or eco-nomic status.
“We are all members of one family. The entire nation is one family. Within a family, there may be dif-ferences of opinion or variations in behavior, but the family bond is an remarkable entity . . . our goal is to stand united as one reakable family as a nation,” the CA said yesterday during exchanging greetings with the members of Hindu community at the Dhakeshwari National Temple in the city on the eve of the Durga Puja.
Whatever the religious or ideological differences may have, the state has no right to discriminate among citizens, he said, adding, the state is duty-bound to ensure equal dignity for all.
“Whatever faith or ideology one follows, whether rich or poor- every person is first and foremost a citi-zen. All rights of citizens are guaranteed in the constitution,” Professor Yunus said.
Noting that the state has already outlined the rights of every citizen, he said no government has the au-thority to deny anyone those rights, not even in the slightest measure.
Sharing his personal feelings regarding the Durga Puja, Prof Yunus said he did not want to miss the joy of the Durga Puja festival.
“I have to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York as head of government during the Puja days. So, I thought I might be deprived of this joy this year. But I was determined to come here. That’s why, I came here earlier to share the happiness with you,” he added.
Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain, Religious Secretary AKM Aftab Hossain Pramanik, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) President Basudeb Dhar and Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee President Jayanta Kumar Deb spoke at the function, among others.
Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee General Secretary Tapash Saha moderated the event.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Lamiya Murshed were also present at the function.
