Play store
A Janmashtami procession in Chattogram on Friday called for equal rights and security for the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
The colourful procession was inaugurated at Anderkilla Mor in the port city in the morning. It then passed through Laldighi Par, Kotwali Mor, New Market, Rifle Club, Bose Brothers, Buddhist Temple and Momin Road before ending at the premises of JM Sen Hall.
Thousands of people took part in the procession organised by the central committee of the Janmashtami Celebration Council Bangladesh.
Devotees dressed up depicting different episodes from the life of Lord Krishna and joined the procession. Many participants carried placards and banners highlighting various demands of the Hindu community.
During the procession, Advocate Chandan Talukdar, president of the council, told journalists that they wanted to convey the message of Lord Krishna—“the destruction of evil and protection of the good”—and move forward accordingly.
“We want to run this country together, regardless of religion, caste or creed,” he said.
Biplab Dey Partha, executive general secretary of the council, said they wanted to convey a message of a non-communal Bangladesh based on equality and friendship.
“Under the ‘Rainbow Nation’ that the prime minister has spoken about, we demand equal rights and security for people of all religions,” he said.
“As Bangladeshis, our fundamental rights must not be violated. Hindus should be able to live peacefully and safely and enjoy their rights, including employment opportunities, as citizens of Bangladesh,” he added.
Placards carried by members of the Sanatani Rights Movement Chattogram Divisional Committee raised various demands, including an explanation from the state as to why Hindus have been migrating from the country continuously since 1947.
Other messages called for the state to ensure that no divisions are created among people based on religion and demanded “equal rights under the Constitution, not charity,” as well as implementation of an eight-point set of demands.
Banners and festoons carried by several other organisations demanded justice for those involved in attacks, cases, arrests, rape, vandalism and occupation of Hindu temples, arson and incidents of communal incitement.
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was announced as the chief guest at the inaugural event, while State Minister for Land Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin was named as the inaugurator and Chattogram-8 lawmaker Ershad Ullah as a guest. However, none of them attended the event.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Shaukat Ali inaugurated the procession.
Asked about the absence of the announced guests, R K Das Rupu, general secretary of the central committee of Janmashtami Celebration Council Bangladesh, told bdnews24.com that the guests would attend the afternoon programme.
A religious conference has been scheduled for Friday afternoon at the JM Sen Hall premises as part of the Janmashtami celebrations. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is expected to attend as the chief guest.
The procession began from Anderkilla Mor after balloons were released. Devotees dressed in colourful attire joined the rally to the sounds of drums and flutes, chanting the name of Lord Krishna.
