Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told, ”People of all religions have lived in this country for thousands of years. Our freedom has been achieved in exchange for the blood of people of all religions. Responding to Bangabandhu's call, we all fought together and made this country independent when militancy and terrorism arose in this country, we all resisted militancy together.”
The Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting, reception of heroic freedom fighters and cultural programme on the occasion of birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and golden jubilee of independence organized by Bangladesh Christian Association at Tejgaon Church Community Center in Dhaka on Sunday. State Minister for Religion Md Faridul Haque Khan addressed the function as the guest of honor.
The Minister said, "People of all religions will live in safety. We are moving forward to establish that Bangladesh. Bangladesh is moving forward at a fast pace under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We will continue the trend of development together.”
The Minister of State for Religion has said that an insidious group wants to destroy the harmonious environment of the country by being jealous of the unprecedented development and success of Bangladesh. In no way will their purpose be allowed to succeed. They will be resisted along with the people.
The state minister said Bangabandhu understood the futility of the state of Pakistan established in 1947 on the basis of religion. He added secularism as one of the basic principles of the constitution by establishing Bangladesh with the aim of building a habitable and safe country for the followers of all religions.
He said the government has made a permanent deposit in the name of the trust by releasing an endowment fund of Tk 5 crore to run the activities of the trust for the development of the Christian community. In the last 12 years, from the proceeds of the trust's endowment fund, a grant of Tk. Grants of Tk 61.20 lakh have been provided to 55 churches and cemeteries. On the occasion of Merry Christmas-2018, 2019 and 2020, a grant of Tk 25 million has been provided from the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund in favor of 402 churches, churches and places of worship.
The meeting was chaired by Nirmal Rosario, President of Bangladesh Christian Association and was addressed by MP Jewel Areng, Advocate Jharna Gloria Sarkar and Cardinal Patrick D'Rosario CSC of Bangladesh, Monindra Kumar Nath, Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, - Pankaj Gilbert Costa, President of Operative Credit Union Ltd. Dhaka. Officials of concerned departments were present.
