Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged people to remain vigilant against rumours and attempts to provoke people through social media, saying that no communal provocation or hatred should be allowed to create instability in society.

“Some people are spreading rumours in various ways to destabilise the country. Some are trying to incite people through social media,” he said while exchanging greetings with the Hindu community members marking Janmashtami at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

Tarique assured that his government is committed to ensuring the security of every citizen, regardless of caste or creed.

Janmashtami, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community commemorating the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, will be celebrated across the country on Friday with due religious fervour and gaiety.

Wishing the Hindu community on Janmashtami, the Prime Minister said that Bangladesh belongs to everyone and all citizens here enjoy equal rights.

He said every citizen has the constitutional right to live according to their own religious beliefs and culture, stressing that the government and BNP believe that while religion is personal, the state belongs to everyone.

“Religion is individual, but everyone has the right to security,” the Prime Minister said.

He called upon all to further strengthen religious harmony, tolerance, mutual respect and the bonds of goodwill and communal harmony.

“On the occasion of Janmashtami, I call upon everyone to strengthen further the bonds of religious harmony, tolerance, mutual respect and goodwill and harmony,” he said.

Tarique also wished the Hindu community peace, comfort and security in celebrating all their religious festivals, and extended advance greetings for Durga Puja.

“Following the Janmashtami festival, the religious and social festival of Durga Puja is ahead of you. Celebrate all the festivals peacefully, comfortably and safely. I once again extend my greetings on Janmashtami as well as advance greetings for Durga Puja,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the presence of people of different religions and beliefs in a state and society is the beauty of a diverse society.

The Prime Minister said people in Bangladesh had traditionally lived together with mutual respect, goodwill and harmony while practising their respective religions and cultures.

However, at different times, he said people with the character of Kamsa, the tyrannical and wicked king of Mathura ,have tried to create and prolong divisions and conflicts in the state and society.

Tarique called upon the country’s all citizens to remain alert so that anti-social forces could not raise their heads again or disrupt the existing environment of communal harmony.

He said maintaining mutual goodwill and harmony in society is the responsibility of every citizen.

Referring to the story of Lord Krishna, Tarique said Krishna was born in Mathura about 5,500 years ago when the city was ruled by the cruel and authoritarian King Kamsa.

According to Hindu belief, Krishna's mission included the destruction of evil and protection of the righteous, he said.

Drawing a parallel with Bangladesh's recent political history, the Prime Minister said a cruel ruler once deprived people of their rights and imposed herself on the country like Kamsa.

“After more than a decade and a half, the democratic people of the country, irrespective of party, religion and identity, brought down that fascist force at the cost of thousands of lives,” he said.

“Democracy has started its journey again in Bangladesh. Now it is time to rebuild the country by improving the fragile economy, divided administration and deteriorating law and order,” Tarique said.

He said ensuring political and economic empowerment of citizens is essential for building a prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh while safeguarding its sovereignty.

The Prime Minister said the identities of “minority” and “majority” should not be considered important in today’s global village.

“Those who are considered ‘minority’ or ‘majority’ at today’s programme, if you travel to Europe or America, we all become the so-called ‘minority’. So, in today’s global village, the identities of minority or majority are not the main issue,” he said.

“Therefore, let us not think of ourselves as minority or majority; let us all think of ourselves as Bangladeshis,” Tarique said.

He said political and economic empowerment of citizens is essential for building a prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh while keeping its sovereignty consolidated.

He said the government is implementing various initiatives towards this goal, including the Family Card, Farmers’ Card and Sports Card, as well as honorariums for religious leaders of all faiths.

“The present government wants to build such a welfare-state system where the state, according to its capacity and ability, will provide necessary support to citizens irrespective of political affiliation, religion and caste,” Tarique said.

He said a desired welfare state could be built through mutual responsibility, trust and dialogue among the state, government and citizens.

“The present government is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in this state and society. For this, collective efforts and cooperation are needed,” the Prime Minister said.

At the programme, Tarique also distributed honorariums among priests and temple caretakers.

He handed over cheques to nine priests and temple caretakers, while priests and temple caretakers across 64 districts received their honorariums through electronic fund transfer (EFT).

To attend the Janmashtami programme, the Prime Minister walked from his office at Bangladesh Secretariat to Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad), Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Prime Minister’s Public Administration Adviser Md Ismail Zabihullah and  State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln spoke at the event.

Besides, CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Vice-Chairman Tapan Chandra Majumder, Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary and Kalbela Editor Santosh Sharma, Swamibagh ISKCON President Srimat Bhaktimoy Nitai Swami Maharaj and BNP Assistant Religious Affairs Secretary Amalendu Das Apu, among others, spoke at the programme.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Minority Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar moderated the programme.

Local Government Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Law Minister Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapon, Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed-Ur Rahman, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, BNP Standing Committee members Amanullah Aman and Farhad Halim Donar, Vice-Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu, Gono Forum President Subrata Chowdhury and leaders of the Hindu community were present.