Bangladesh prime minister Tarique Rahman urges unity, equal rights in Durga Puja address

Prime minister Tarique Rahman urged people of all faiths to unite in building the country, telling Hindu worshippers during a Durga Puja address that citizenship and shared rights should guide their collective future.

“You have rights to this country, you have claims to this country, and I have the same rights and the same claims as you,” Rahman said.

Addressing members of the Hindu community, he invoked the 1971 independence war, movements to restore democracy, and the 2024 mass uprising as examples of Bangladeshis standing together across religious lines.

“On the battlefield, we did not look at anyone’s religion,” he said, recalling the independence struggle. He said Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians had fought together for the country.

Rahman said the same solidarity had driven struggles for voting rights and freedom of expression.

“People of all religions and all opinions were present on those streets,” he said. “We stood shoulder to shoulder to establish democracy.”

He urged citizens to carry that spirit into the work of building Bangladesh.

“But if those rights are to be established, we must, people of every profession, every religion, stand shoulder to shoulder to build this country,” he said.

Rahman also acknowledged that security measures surrounding his visit had made it difficult for some worshippers to reach the gathering. He said he would keep his speech brief to allow more people to join the festivities.

“May we continue to live together in peace for the next thousand years,” he said.