S M Tajul Islam:

The inaugural ceremony and discussion meeting of the Sri Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival 2026 was held on Thursday (16 July) at the Swamibagh Ashram in the capital.
The event was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the chief guest. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Bijon Kanti Sarkar and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister A.B.M. Abdus Sattar were present as special guests.
Addressing the gathering, the Local Government Minister said that although attempts have been made to create political divisions in Bangladesh based on religion, the government does not believe in such politics. He stated that the government’s objective is to advance the country’s development by embracing people of all faiths and communities under the spirit of Bangladeshi nationalism.
The minister further said that following the ideals of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and the path pursued by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to ensure the rights, dignity, and equal opportunities of people of all religions.
He claimed that the government, formed with the support of the people, is giving priority to national development and public welfare.
The minister emphasized that Bangladesh is not a state for any single religion but a country belonging to followers of all faiths. He said the government aims to move the nation forward by ensuring the participation and representation of every community.
Referring to the spirit of the Liberation War, he said that people from Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian communities fought together for the country’s independence in 1971. He warned that anti-harmony forces have repeatedly attempted to undermine this tradition of communal harmony and urged everyone to remain united in resisting such efforts.