PM Says Citizenship, Not Religious Identity, Will Shape Nation-Building

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday said Bangladeshi citizenship, rather than religious identity, should be the guiding principle in the country's nation-building efforts.

He called on citizens to uphold the spirit of unity demonstrated during the 1971 Liberation War, the movement to restore democracy in 1990 and the mass uprising of 2024, stressing the importance of working together beyond religious differences.

"Just as people of all faiths fought shoulder to shoulder during the Liberation War, the movement to restore democracy [in 1990] and the 2024 mass uprising, everyone must work together beyond religious identities in the journey of nation-building," he said.

The prime minister made the remarks while visiting Durga Puja mandaps in the capital's Mohakhali and Gulshan-Banani areas on Sunday night, where he met members of the Hindu community.

Recalling the 1971 Liberation War, Tarique Rahman said people from different religious backgrounds had united to secure the country's independence without allowing their faith to divide them.

"Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians—all those who love this country—joined together to liberate the country," he said.

Referring to subsequent struggles for democracy, he said people had repeatedly taken to the streets to defend their voting rights and freedom of expression whenever democratic institutions came under threat.

"Religious identity had never been a barrier to those movements," he added.

Reflecting on the 2024 mass uprising, the prime minister said people from all walks of life had participated regardless of their political affiliations or religious beliefs, standing together to make the movement successful.

He emphasised that Bangladeshi citizenship was the most important identity shared by all citizens, regardless of their religious backgrounds.

"Our greatest identity is that we are all people of Bangladesh. You have the same rights over this country as I do. To establish those rights, people of every religion and profession must work shoulder to shoulder to build the country," he said.

Tarique Rahman also highlighted Bangladesh's longstanding tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths, describing it as a legacy that must be preserved for future generations.

"Everyone should aspire to ensure that people of all religions could continue to live together in peace for another thousand years," he added.

During his visits, the prime minister first attended the Durga Puja celebrations at Mohakhali Rakshakali Temple, where he exchanged greetings with members of the Puja celebration committee and the Hindu community.

He later visited a Puja mandap in Banani, where he greeted worshippers and other visitors.

The prime minister's wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton accompanied him during the visits.