Bangladesh to move ahead overcoming all obstacles: PM [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Bangladesh to move ahead overcoming all obstacles: PM

Local December 23, 2015

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed the firm resolve that Bangladesh would continue to move ahead overcoming all obstacles with the united efforts of people of all religions.
‘We have many obstacles. We have to overcome the hurdles as we work for people’s welfare. The obstacles could not slow down our pace of work,’ she said seeking cooperation from all to take the country forward.
The prime minister was exchanging greetings with members of the Christian community at her official residence Ganabhaban in the evening ahead of Christmas Day.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a secular country where people of every religion would live peacefully and with fraternity. ‘People of every religion, creed and colour took part in the War of Liberation and gave blood for independence. So, the soil of Bangladesh is for the people of every religion,’ she said.
She said her party firmly believes that religion is the matter of individual, but festivals are for all. ‘Everybody would perform religion freely and everybody would show honour to other religions, and it’s the spirit of our War of Liberation.’
The prime minister said every religion preaches about peace. ‘So, we want to establish peace for our prosperity. Our government is striving for peace and prosperity.’
Members of the Christian community welcomed the prime minister with Rabindra song ‘Anandoloke Mongolaloke Birajo Satyo Sundara’. The function began with recitation from holy Bible by Bishop Paul Shishir Sarkar. Leaders of the Christmas community greeted the prime minister by presenting her a bouquet of flowers.
A Christmas Tree was decorated at Ganabhaban while songs highlighting the significance of the Christmas Day and praising Jesus as well as patriotic songs were preformed on the occasion.
Bishops, fathers and distinguished persons of the Christian community attended the function.
Religious affairs minister principal Motiur Rahman, state minister for social welfare and president of Bangladesh Christian Association advocate Promode Mankin, archbishop Patrick D Rozario and secretary general of the association Nirmal Rozario also spoke on the occasion.
Later, the prime minister cut a Christmas cake while BCA president and secretary general presented an X-Mass card to the prime minister.
The prime minister entertained the delegation members with cakes and sweetmeats.
Responding to the appreciation of her government’s success in various fields over the years, Sheikh Hasina said, ‘I always consider myself as the people’s servant. The post of prime minister is a temporary one for me,’ she said adding that she never used power for making her own fortune.
Sheikh Hasina said peace and progress of Bangladesh always faced setbacks when BNP came to power. ‘In 2001, people of no religion could escape their torture, wrath and hatred,’ she said.
The prime minister said her government is making constant stride for changing the lots of the people, alleviate hunger and poverty by ensuring their rights to basic needs.
Responding to the demand for making a full minister from the Christian community, she said she would consider giving the charge of a cabinet minister to incumbent state minister Promode Mankin during the next reshuffle of her cabinet.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to ensure a peaceful society where people of all religions will be able to live in peace, and enjoy basic rights and religious freedom.
‘But, it’s true that the religious minorities of the country were always tortured particularly whenever BNP and its allies were in power,’ she said, adding that it’s the duty of the state to ensure so people of every religion can live with equal rights and religious freedom.
She thanked the members of the Christian community for converging on Ganabhaban on the eve of Christmas.