Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has sought cooperation from all to maintain religious harmony in the country, ignoring the identity of minority and majority.

He made the call while exchanging greetings with representatives of the Christian community at the State Guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka marking Christmas Day on Tuesday.

"I am very glad to meet you all today. We seek religious harmony. We don’t want words like minority and majority. In this country, we are one family, and our dream is to live together as one. To make this dream a reality, everyone must come forward," he said.

"We are all humans alike, and our identity as human beings should come before our religion. Every religion carries a message of peace. We must internalise that message of peace within ourselves. Only then will divisions be eliminated. If we can establish the message of peace within our hearts, we will find that peace in all religions, and there will be no divisions. Our children will have a beautiful childhood," he continued.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain conducted the event, among others, attended by, Archbishop Vejoy N. D'Cruze, head of the Catholic Christian community in Bangladesh, Bishop Bejoy N D'Cruze, the head of the Catholic Christians of Bangladesh; Bishop Philip P. Adhikary, Chairman of National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh; President of Bangladesh Christian Association Nirmal Rosario; Ignatius Hemant Corraya, secretary general of the Bangladesh Christian Association; and Daniel Nirmal D'Costa, President of Bangladesh Christian Mohajote.

Assuring full cooperation, the Christian leaders expressed hope that under the leadership of the Chief Adviser, Bangladesh would foster generosity, communal harmony, and inclusivity.

Addressing the event, Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze referred to the life, ideals, and message of peace of Jesus Christ.

He said, "The people’s mass uprising in Bangladesh has opened doors to new possibilities. Professor Yunus has taken on the difficult responsibility of leading the country. You are knowledgeable, honest, and a trusted figure for all in Bangladesh.”

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The Christian leaders also thanked the interim government for the donation of Tk 2.5 crore to the Christian Religious Welfare Trust on the occasion of Christmas. This grant has been distributed to churches across the country.

At the event, the Christian representatives presented a Bible as a gift to the Chief Adviser.

The meeting was also attended by Law Adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

The Christian community will celebrate Christmas in the country, as elsewhere across the world, on Wednesday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

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Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, is the celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and human beings.

Decoration of Christmas trees with colourful lights, special prayers, and distribution of gifts among children and exchange of pleasantries are the main features of the day's festivities.

Christmas carols and hymns will be sung before and after the prayer sessions at the churches.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and different private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.