Several noted minority community leaders, academics and anti-war crimes campaigners have pulled up six US congressmen for what they called “absolutely false projection” of the state of minorities in Bangladesh in a letter to President Biden, asking to take “appropriate measures” for banning Bangladeshi law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions. They called it a “threat to the existing communal harmony in Bangladesh.”  Asked about the authenticity of the claim in the letter that “Since Sheikh Hasina's rise to power, the Hindu population has been halved,” Advocate Rana Dasgupta, leader of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, outright rejected it. “I will say this claim is a travesty of truth,” he said. Read more: Palbari Puja Mandap in Sherpur: Sign of communal harmony for over a century Referring to a number of surveys, he added, “Between 1947 and 1971, under Pakistani rule, a whopping 9.7% of the population declined.” Since Bangladesh became independent, over the last five decades, Hindu population decreased around 10 percent. This happened considerably when the country was ruled by BNP and Jamaat, he said. In response to such assertions in the letter from the US congressmen, Dasgupta said, “As the national election is approaching, a certain group has become very active.” Referring to earlier lobbying efforts by Jamaat, a political party which has proven record of collaborating with the Pakistani Military junta in 1971 in the acts of genocide, abduction, loot, arson, and rape, Dasgupta, also a prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, said: “With the singular objective to stop the war crimes trial and enjoy the culture of impunity, Jamaat spent money and struck an agreement with lobbyist groups overseas to get the backing of foreign governments in their favour.” Read: Jamaat demands the govt declare Ahmadiyyas 'non-Muslim' “On the international stage, a systematic smear campaign has been carried out against the trial process,” he said. The letter from the six congressmen also claims “Sheikh Hasina’s government also has persecuted Bangladesh’s minority Christian population – burning and looting places of worship, jailing pastors, and breaking up families when religious conversion occurs.” Leaders of the community including Nirmal Rozario, president of Bangladesh Christian Association, rejected this claim as well. “It is an outright lie. Rather, the reality is that with the return of AL, our community has been living in harmony – with assistance from the prime minister. The government’s development schemes connect the minorities as well,” he said. Eminent researcher and freedom fighter Ajoy Das Gupta, said, “A number of BNP leaders, including Rumeen Farhana, went vocal on social media, justifying the letter.” “BNP and Jamaat hold a sordid record of attacking minorities,” he added. Read more: ‘Hate campaign’ being run against Ahmadiyyas on Twitter, says member of community Calling such assertions “biased, a travesty of justice, and highly motivated,” the minority community leaders also called into question why the US congressmen did not bother to mention the “BNP-Jamaat sponsored hate campaign against minorities”, including a series of tweets posted from the verified account of Basherkella – known as a “Jamaat mouthpiece” – calling for “boycotting” the Ahmadiyya community.

For the last 127 years, Durga Puja is being celebrated at Sherpur’s Palbari Puja Mandap with much fanfare. Palbari is a testament to the fact that communal harmony and freedom of religion are deeply ingrained in the Bangladeshi psyche. Durga Puja at Palbari Mandap is a family event held at the house of late educationist Nagendra Chandra Pal in Khalbhanga area under Sherpur’s Nalitabari upazila. Besides being the oldest puja mandap of Sherpur district, it is also known as the second oldest mandap of the country. According to Palbari Puja Committee Chairman Gourango Chandra Pal, Durga Puja celebration at Palbari mandap started in 1885 by Mangal Ram Sarkar, the ancestor of Pal family. After Mangal’s death, his son Nagendra continued arranging the puja for half a century. Nagendra is no more, but the puja is still being arranged thanks to the relentless efforts of his four sons, who are now in charge.     Read: With scars from 2021, Cumilla sees tighter security for Durga Puja Over the years, Durga Puja at Palbari has become an integral part of the lives of the local Hindu community. From a mere family tradition, it has developed into a popular festival. The local Hindu devotees view the Palbari puja as a junction where people from all faiths mingle to find happiness. The Palbari puja mandap has a strong legacy. During the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, when the Pakistani military were killing Hindus in droves, the Pal family continued celebrating Durga Puja defying all danger. This is a proof of the power that culture, tradition and religion possess. Bishwajit Pal, Nagendra’s son, said that the century-old Palbari puja mandap has been able to propagate harmony among the local people. Read: Bagerhat’s Durga Puja attraction: 151 idols in one mandap “We don’t discriminate against anyone based on his religious identity. The Palbari Puja Mandap is open for all. Arti and cultural programmes at the mandap every evening have become a source of entertainment for the local people,” he said. “We have been arranging the puja for four generations. Now the time has come for our next generation to take over. Through this puja, we just want to share happiness and regard best wishes for people,” Bishwajit said. Biplab Dey Ketu, a local journalist, said he has never missed the Palbari Puja since his childhood. Read Keep vigil against vandalism during Durga Puja: Obaidul Quader asks AL members “People from the area wait every year for this festival to commence. Our hearts become content each time we visit the place,” he said. This year, Durga Puja is being celebrated in 144 mandaps in Sherpur district. To avert any untoward incident, security has been beefed up at the festival sites. While all the mandaps have been brought under CCTV surveillance, a large number of police and Ansar personnel have also been deployed. Read 5 Durga Puja Bhog Recipes to try this festive season Besides non-stop patrolling by the law enforcement agencies, volunteers from the Puja Udjapon Parishad are also working tirelessly to ensure security in Sherpur’s Palbari Puja Mandap, organisers say.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs is set to launch a comprehensive programme to promote communal harmony in the country. The year-long outreach project will cost Tk25 crore and be implemented by media and ICT consultant organisations. The implementing organisations will distribute leaflets, posters, and newsletters containing messages of religious harmony among people of different beliefs. They will also create advertisements and audio-visual content. Bangladhol Limited and REVE Systems recently signed an agreement with the religious affairs ministry to implement the project as media and ICT consultants. Read: Communicate anti-terrorism, anti-militancy messages through local mosque: religious affairs ministry State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan and Religious Affairs Secretary Kazi Enamul Hasan were presented at the agreement signing ceremony.

All the cases relating to disturbing communal harmony in the country have to be disposed of by the lower trial courts in 90 working days accepting the charge sheets , according to a notification issued by the Supreme Court administration on Wednesday. Read:Supreme Court to conduct judicial activities physically from Wednesday The notification was issued on the order of the Chief Justice, the administration said. In the case of failing to resolve the matter within this timeframe, the SC has to be informed of the reasons, it said.

Bangladesh is a shining example of communal harmony where people of all faiths practice their religions freely and peacefully, said the country's apex trade body of apparel manufacturers Friday. "It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Bangladesh," Faruque Hassan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said. Read: BGMEA requests EU to continue duty benefit for 12 years after LDC graduation People of all faiths fought together in 1971 to liberate Bangladesh and are still making efforts for the development of the country, he added. He made the remark following a visit to Sarbojanin Kendrio Kalibari in Gopalganj Friday. Read: BGMEA urges govt to speed up airport dev projects BGMEA Senior Vice-President SM Mannan (Kochi); vice-presidents Shahidullah Azim, Md Nasir Uddin and Khandoker Rafiqul Islam were also present. The BGMEA president handed over a cheque of Tk3 lakh to Sarbojanin Kendrio Kalibari.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said the Cumilla incident was planned for destroying the communal harmony of the country. “It appears to us that it was a motivated act instigated by a vested group,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. He also smelled provocations by ‘a third party’ in the sporadic violence in the country over Durga Puja. Read:Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla incident: Home Minister Asked about the reason behind the Cumilla incident, the minister said, “We’ll make it public once we get all the evidence and those who were involved in it will be given exemplary punishment.” “Not only in Cumilla, attempts were also made to destabilize the country through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar,” he said. “The people of Bangladesh are religious but, not fanatic. We never allowed militancy and terrorism on the soil of Bangladesh. We contained militancy and terrorism through united efforts,” said Asaduzzaman. Read:Don’t hide drug addiction in family, seek early medical treatment: Home Minister Soon after the Cumilla incident, four lives were lost at Hajiganj in Chandpur and some policemen were also injured, he said, adding some small incidents also occurred in Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Feni districts. “No incident has been reported since Saturday night. Our security forces are working with patience and we work on intelligence information. Those who are trying to destroy communal peace will not succeed,” said the minister. Regarding BNP’s allegation over government’s involvement in Cumilla incident, the minister said these statements are not based on facts as those are motivated ones.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said those who are conspiring to destroy communal harmony in Bangladesh will never succeed. “We’ve a tradition of communal harmony. We’re determined to maintain communal harmony, no matter what,” he said. GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the remarks at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Hindu Parishad at Jatiya Party chairman’s Banani office. He said their party founder late HM Ershad had set an example in maintaining communal harmony during his rule. Also read: JaPa not to compromise on HR issues: GM Quader The Jatiya Party chief also said Ershad played a unique role in protecting the rights of people of all religions. He also recalled that Ershad had declared the day of Janmashtami, a major festival of the Hindu community marking the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, a public holiday. ”He also provided security and financial assistance for various pujas and festivals (of Hindu community).” GM Quader said the Hindu Welfare Trust, founded by Ershad, has now become an institution worth a hundred crore of taka. He also said the Jatiya Party founder always kept allocation for the construction and renovation of temples. During the meeting, the Bangladesh Hindu Parishad leader handed over the draft law on minority protection to the Jatiya Party chairman and greeted him with a bouquet. Jatiya Party presidium members ATU Taj Rahman, Advocate Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan and office secretary MA Razzak Khan, among others, were present at the meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government will do everything necessary to ensure the civic and democratic rights of the people.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar marking the 50th Victory Day. Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury placed the floral wreaths at the altar of the memorial around 6:34am to pay homage to the great heroes of the country.

The nation is celebrating the 50th Victory Day with elaborate programmes paying deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War.   Bangladesh was born as an independent country on this day in 1971 after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month war.   Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day. Bangladeshis at home and abroad will celebrate the day.