President Mohammed Shahabuddin urged the people of Bangladesh to stand by the flood-affected as he addressed the Janmashtami reception programme for the Hindu community, marking Janmashtami, the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, at Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Monday.
鈥業 hope that everyone, being imbued with patriotism, will come forward to stand by the helpless and distressed people within their respective abilities whatever they have,鈥� he told the Hindu religious leaders.
鈥楨leven districts of the south-eastern region of Bangladesh are greatly affected by the severe floods. People in flood-affected areas are living inhumane lives at present. These affected helpless people need multi-faceted support, including food, water and medicine for their survival and safe shelter as well,鈥� he continued.
Noting that the incumbent government was making all-out efforts to help the flood-hit people, the president mentioned that members of the 鈥榓nti-discrimination students鈥� movement鈥� were also providing their support as much as they could.
The head of the state extended his sincere greetings and congratulations to the people of the Hindu community, irrespective of the caste, creed and political affiliations, urging everyone to work together for the country鈥檚 betterment.
Calling Sri Krishna as a benevolent and humanitarian person as well as a social reformer of Hinduism, the president said that the main philosophy of Lord Sri Krishna was to remove injustice, oppression and violence from the society, and building a congenial atmosphere and harmony amongst all.
鈥楤angladesh is a country of communal harmony, a unique feature of our culture . . . The existing harmony and mutual amity in society should be maintained to accelerate national progress and prosperity.鈥�
President Shahabuddin pointed out that the constitution of Bangladesh guaranteed equal rights to all citizens. 鈥業f we all want to move Bangladesh forward, we must forget the differences of religions and castes, and work together.鈥�
He said that the main message of all religions was human welfare and religious values should be used for the welfare of the country and its people.
The president said that this Janmashtami鈥檚 pledge was to build a progressive and peaceful social system for the new generation in the bond of mutual sympathy, harmony and human values.
He asked everyone to maintain religious harmony in the society and behave in a tolerant manner, highlighting the country鈥檚 long-cherished harmony and cultural heritage in the international arena.
Subsequently, the president went round the Durbar Hall and exchanged greetings with all the guests.
President鈥檚 wife Rebeka Sultana, religious adviser of the interim government AFM Khalid Hossain, adviser for primary and mass education ministry Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, justice Gobinda Chandra Thakur, justice Biswajit Das, foreign diplomats, Ramakrishna Mission principal Srimat Swami Purnatmananda Maharaj, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust secretary Krishnendu Kumar Pal, deputy director Prashanto Kumar Biswas, president of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Parishad Sri Basudeb Dhor, general secretary Santosh Sharma and president of Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee Sri Jayanta Kumar Deb and its general secretary Tapas Kumar Pal attended.
President office鈥檚 senior secretary Nasimul Ghani, military secretary major general Mohammad Adil Chowdhury and press secretary Md Joynal Abedin also accompanied the president on the occasion that lasted from 11:00am to 11:24am.
