PM urges people to work for peace 48-feet high statue of Lord Buddha unveiled

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged people of all faiths and communities to work shoulder to shoulder to build Bangladesh as the most peaceful and prosperous nation in South Asia.

She gave the call while speaking as chief guest at a function marking the unveiling of 48-feet high statue of Lord Buddha at the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery Campus in the city's Kamlapur yesterday morning.

Addressing the function, Hasina renewed her vow to eliminate corruption, terrorism and militancy from Bangladesh and said the on going drives against all evil deeds would continue.

Mentioning that welfare of mankind is the essence of all religions, she requested people from all walks of life to devote themselves for the welfare of the humanity.

The prime minister said brotherly and peaceful relations among the people of all religions are essential for national, regional and international development. “To attain our cherished economic emancipation, peace and stability are indispensable.”

She said the country's constitution upholds people's right to live in peace and comfort in the society. “Our constitution also preserves the people's right to live in a secular society where people of all religions will have full dignity and freedom.”

Hasina said people of various community, religion, caste and creed are living peacefully in Bangladesh. “Such harmony and peaceful co-existence is rare in the world history.”

She assured the Buddhist community of ensuring all facilities for them to live in peace in Bangladesh.

Chaired by President of Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha Suddhananda Mahathero, the function was also addressed, among others, by Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Religious Affairs Minister Md Shahjahan Miah, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP, Thai Ambassador in Dhaka Tasanawadee Miancharoen, Phrakhru Sangakharak Boonsong Upasamo, Lord Abbot and President of the Monks Wat Songmetttawanaram, and Police Major General from Thailand Suwira Songmetta.

Earlier, after arriving at the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery Campus, the Prime Minister unveiled the plaque of the statue of Buddha. The Thai Royal family has donated the statue, the highest such sculpture of Buddha in Bangladesh.

At the function, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed Atish Dipankar Peace Gold Award and Visuddhananda Mahathero Gold Award.

She said the previous Awami League government had allocated two bighas of land for setting up a Buddhist Monastery at the city's Badda while the present government has again allocated another two bighas of land in Uttara to set up another Buddhist Monastery.

She lamented that the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery auditorium and clinic, which were inaugurated during the previous Awami League government were “neglected” by the next BNP-Jamaat government.

“However, as in the past, my government will again take care of these two infrastructures,” she said. About national development, Hasina said her government is attaching top most priority to development in the rural areas.

“If we can keep our rural people in peace and comfort, the country will advance a lot towards sustainable development. We must make our rural economy self-reliant,” she said.



(Source:The Daily Star)