The Misconception of Considering Hindus a ‘Vote Bank’ Has Been Dispelled

Photo: Collected

News Desk: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the misconception and myth that the previous fascist forces considered the Hindu community of the country their “vote bank” has been shattered by members of the Hindu community in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

He made the remarks on Friday (September 4) while participating in a rally marking Janmashtami, which began at Palashi intersection in the Dhaka University area.

The Home Minister said that Bangladesh’s Constitution assigns the state the responsibility of ensuring freedom of religion and the right of people of all faiths to practice their religions, and that the state will ensure these rights.

He said, “The Constitution also states that no discrimination can be made on the basis of religion. To ensure religious freedom, the rights of people of all faiths to freely practice their religion, manage their places of worship, and establish places of worship have been guaranteed.”

The Home Minister said, “We do not want to simply keep these principles confined to books or the Constitution. In practice, we will ensure this harmony and freedom, and we have already made that commitment.”

He said, “People may have religious identities, but religious identity is not the primary consideration here. We want to live here as citizens. All citizens of Bangladesh—Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and members of ethnic communities—will be free to observe their respective religious practices and cultural traditions. But in terms of nationality, we will all remain citizens of Bangladesh.”

The Home Minister said, “There will be harmony among us. This will be our only identity. That is why we say, as our leader has said, ‘Bangladesh comes first.’ If Bangladesh comes first, then we are Bangladeshis first, followed by our religious, cultural, and ethnic identities. Bangladeshis first, and Bangladesh for everyone.”

He further said that as free citizens of Bangladesh, no one should identify themselves as a minority. Everyone should identify themselves on the basis of citizenship—not religion—as equal citizens entitled to the same rights in the country.

The Home Minister said, “So, what should we say from today? We will maintain religious harmony. We will maintain social harmony and peace. There will no longer be any need to use the term ‘communal harmony.’ Instead, it will be religious harmony, coexistence, and social peace and harmony.”