BNP Wants to Build Bangladesh With People of All Faiths: Bijan Kanti Sarkar in Chattogram
The BNP wants to build an inclusive Bangladesh giving equal dignity to people of all religions, castes and ethnic groups. Bijan Kanti Sarkar, the prime minister's special assistant for Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and ethnic group affairs, stressed involving qualified representatives of all communities in the party's organisational work.
He said: 'We are all Bangladeshis. Our thinking is Bangladesh first. Religion is for the individual, the state is for everyone — holding this value, the country must be built with everyone.'
He made the remarks on Friday (November 13) at noon as chief guest at an exchange of views with leaders of the Chattogram north, south and metropolitan units of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Welfare Front, held at the Chattogram District Council conference room.
Bijan Kanti Sarkar said the values and dignity of people of all religions are given importance in BNP politics. The prime minister is also discussing with representatives of various religious and ethnic groups and listening to them.
He said that because of adverse conditions over the past 17 years, many could not remain organisationally active. Now new leadership and workers must be found by going to the grassroots. Everyone must be evaluated on the basis of competence, skill and contribution, while keeping the honour of those who worked for the organisation for a long time. Representation of all communities must be increased in the BNP's mainstream politics and its associate organisations.
On internal disputes in the organisation, he said differences of opinion and competition are part of any organisation, but they must not become a cause of mutual disrespect or division. Disputes must be settled through self-criticism, discussion and the advice of experienced leaders.
In his opening speech at the event, BNP central organising secretary and Chattogram District Council administrator Mahbuber Rahman Shamim said that to strengthen the organisation, leaders and activists must first follow organisational discipline. Politics based on personal likes and dislikes, grouping or following a particular leader will not strengthen the organisation.
Shamim also said everyone must work in unity following the party's decisions and leadership instructions. Work cannot be limited to meetings and gatherings; workers must go door to door and create new activists.
He said many people from the Sanatan, Buddhist and Christian communities are interested in joining BNP politics. They must be welcomed, and no one should be kept away because of a past political position. Effective committees must be formed in every unit and the organisation strengthened at the grassroots. If the organisation is united and strong, the hands of BNP chairman and prime minister Tarique Rahman will be strengthened further.
The chief speaker, Chattogram City Corporation administrator Dr Shahadat Hossain, said that to strengthen the BNP there must be unity, discipline and mutual respect among leaders and activists. Person-centred politics and grouping must stop, and the party's organisational decisions and leadership instructions must be followed. Leaders and activists must work actively in every district of the Chattogram division.
The event was conducted by Biplob Chowdhury Billu, a member of the central committee of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Welfare Front. Special guests who spoke included BNP central executive committee member and Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust trustee Sushil Barua, Chattogram divisional organising secretary and Hindu Religious Welfare Trust trustee Rajib Dhar Tamal, Janmashtami Udjapan Parishad Bangladesh central committee executive general secretary Biplob Partha, central joint secretary general Arjun Kumar Nath and joint secretary general Biswajit Dutta Babu.
Also speaking at the event were Chattogram north district convener Jitendra Nath Montu, Chattogram metropolitan joint convener Sujan Das, Chattogram south district member secretary and private prison inspector Ujjwal Baran Biswas, Bablu Debnath, Chattogram south joint convener Nandan Barua, and Chattogram north district joint conveners Mohan Dey and Sukanta Mahajan.
