Dr Yunus calls for unity to ensure safe festival celebrations for all religions

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday urged the country’s people to work together to create an environment where any religious community can celebrate their festivals smoothly without the need for protection from law enforcement agencies.

He, however, thanked the law enforcement agencies, including the police and army, for their sincere efforts in ensuring a successful and joyous celebration of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.

The Chief Adviser made the remarks while addressing a programme at Dhakeshwari National Temple.

He visited the temple in Old Dhaka and exchanged greetings with members of the Hindu community on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja.

“We have created a scope for you to celebrate the puja festival with the support of the law enforcement agencies. We’ll all work together so that we do not need to do it (celebration of puja with the protection of law enforcers) anymore in the future,” Dr Yunus told the devotees.

He said the government and all stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, made sincere efforts to ensure a smooth celebration of Durga Puja without any untoward incidents.

The Chief Adviser said all state forces, including the police, army, RAB, and Ansar, flawlessly discharged their duties despite various challenges. “It’s a tough task, but they executed it impeccably. They demonstrated that success can be achieved when everyone works together in unity. I thank them for carrying out such a tough duty during the holidays.”

He also said, “We remind ourselves that arranging our joyous festivals with the help of the army, police and RAB is our failure. It’s not normal. We’re accepting this failure for now. This is our failure that we couldn’t build society in a way where a section of society can celebrate its festivals joyfully with all.”

Dr Yunus said the nation does not want a society where people must celebrate their festivals with the assistance of law enforcers. “A segment of society should be able to celebrate its festivals alongside everyone else, with support from others. That’s how it should be. But we haven’t achieved that.”

In this reality, he noted that students, along with the masses and workers, initiated a revolution, sacrificing their lives with the dream of building a new Bangladesh and creating opportunities for all.

“We want to materialise this dream. We don’t want it to remain in just words... We aim to build a Bangladesh where all our citizens can enjoy equal rights,” said Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Yunus.

The Chief Adviser said a wave of festivity has swept across the country on the occasion of Durga Puja, coinciding with the opportunity for citizens to enjoy four consecutive days of holidays.

He said not only the Sanatan practitioners but everyone has been celebrating the occasion with joy and enthusiasm.

Regarding the formation of six commissions to implement state reforms, Dr Yunus said these reforms are essential to eliminate all the elements that people find objectionable. “This will ensure that your sons and daughters can move freely, express their opinions, and participate in any event with full rights.”

He said the current government is committed to building a Bangladesh where everyone, irrespective of their caste or creed, can enjoy equal rights, security, and the confidence to move freely across the country. “This will empower them to pursue their dreams and actively work towards realising those aspirations.”

“It’s possible to build that Bangladesh. It may seem like we’re discussing an imaginary Bangladesh, and indeed it feels like a matter of imagination since it doesn’t practically exist. However, it is possible to turn this dream into reality. The student-led mass upsurge has created this possibility,” Dr Yunus said.

 He said it is not possible to build a new Bangladesh merely by talking without purpose as in the past. “We need to break free from this futile habit. We must identify the new elements needed for a new Bangladesh and work to establish them.”

The Chief Adviser noted that while they have established some commissions for reforms, these commissions alone will not be sufficient to bring about change in the country.

He said the commissions have been established to consolidate the nation‍‍`s dreams into a single vision.

“We’re now filled with great dreams following the student-led revolution. These dreams need a clear outline, as we are stating our intentions to amend the constitution, reform the Election Commission and the electoral system, among other things,” Dr Yunus said.

Through the revolution, he said, the nation emerged from a society where all rights were concentrated in the hands of a small group, leaving the majority deprived of their rights.

The Chief Adviser said everyone’s rights must be established by the state to ensure that no one is deprived of their rights and justice again. “Those who will snatch these rights must face punishment. This was the dream of the revolution. To bring this dream into a structured framework, the commissions have been formed. They will consult with all stakeholders and provide us with an outline within three months.”

Dr Yunus urged everyone not to miss the opportunity to build their envisioned Bangladesh. “A great chance has arisen to reform or change this country. Don’t let it slip away. If this opportunity is lost, we may never be able to reform the state. The students and the people have given us a lamp of Alauddin (a magic lamp) in our hands. We can do whatever we desire,” he said.

He also urged the people not to limit themselves to small dreams but to aspire for a bigger vision. “Be prepared to build a truly new Bangladesh and support it (reform efforts), and declare loudly that we want it (new Bangladesh),” he said.