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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stated that the government does not want to use religion for political gain. He said, “The current government does not want to engage in politics with religion. We do not want to use religion for political interests, nor have we done so in the past.”
He made these remarks in a written statement following an exchange of greetings with Buddhist leaders at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday (April 30).
This information was conveyed by the Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Sujauddoula Sujan Mahmud.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister extended greetings to all Buddhists in Bangladesh and across the world on Buddha Purnima. Leaders of the Buddhist community presented the Prime Minister with a crest of goodwill and a replica of a Buddha statue.
The Prime Minister said, “We know there are many religions in the world. Each religion has numerous followers. Every religion calls people towards well-being. Each religion also has certain established rules and principles.”
Highlighting the teachings of Buddhism, the Prime Minister mentioned that Gautama Buddha, the principal spiritual leader of Buddhists, laid down the Pancha Sila (Five Precepts) for his followers.
These Five Precepts are: refraining from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants. Love, non-violence, and compassion for all beings are also core teachings of Buddhism.
The head of government stated, “The few things mentioned here for observance are important for every human being. I believe that if every citizen appropriately follows their respective religious guidelines alongside state regulations, we can collectively build a humane state and society.”
Stating that ‘Bangladeshi Nationalism’ is a political philosophy of the current government, Tarique Rahman said, “None of you should ever consider yourselves a minority.”
“The state is the identity for me, for you, for all of us. Each of us, every citizen, we are all ‘Bangladeshi’.”