Dhaka: Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. AFM Khalid Hossain today made a strong statement declaring that individuals who target or attack places of worship lack any genuine religious identity and should be recognized solely as criminals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Khalid emphasized the government’s dedication to bringing these offenders to justice and ensuring they receive appropriate punishment. He made these remarks as the chief guest at a workshop titled “The Role of Temple-Based Child and Mass Education in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Disseminating Moral Education,” held at PTI auditorium in the city.
Dr. Khalid assured that the legacy of religious harmony cherished by the people of Bangladesh will be preserved for future generations. He stressed that practicing religious rituals should not lead to narrow-mindedness but should instead inspire and fortify values and moral awareness.
He further reiterated the constitutional right of every citizen to freely practice their religion without hindrance, stating that no individual has the authority to infringe upon these rights. Dr. Khalid also pledged collective resistance against those who seek to attack or defile places of worship, including mosques, temples, shrines, and madrasas.
The event featured Dr. Srikanta Kumar Paul, Director of the Temple-Based Child and Mass Education Project, as a special guest. The function, presided over by ADC (Education and ICT) Md Sharif Uddin and moderated by Assistant Director Sri Rinku Kumar Sharma, also saw contributions from Trustee of Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Dipak Kumar Palit, Parimal Kanti Shill, Advocate Partha Paul Chowdhury, Prof Boby Barua, and Divisional Director of Islamic Foundation Sarker Sarowar Alam.