Which religion they're protecting?

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned that the government would not allow anyone in Bangladesh to do politics over people's religious sentiment.

“At least, this can't be done in Bangladesh … we won't allow this to happen,” she told a function in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

The women and children affairs ministry organised the programme to mark the 85th birth anniversary of Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The PM said various incidents are happening now in the country and the government is tackling those. “At least our government is not sitting idle.”

The wave of terrorism and militancy that spread to different parts of the world had also hit Bangladesh, she noted. “We're trying to check those incidents with an iron hand.”

Hasina said 90 percent people in Bangladesh are Muslims, and there were so many attempts to unleash terrorism and militant activities in the country.

“But Bangladesh is a non-communal country. This is how Father of the Nation had brought independence to the country … we're building the country by following that path and we want to continue with it.”

Expressing sorrow over the suicide bomb attack on a mosque after Juma' prayers in Saudi Arabia on Friday, the PM questioned, “Are they Muslims? How those people who commit suicide and kill other Muslims can be Muslims? Which religion are they protecting?”

The al-Qaeda claimed that they had been killing bloggers here, said Hasina. “So where's the answer to this conflict? Muslims are killing Muslims by carrying out suicide attacks. Also, they are killing people and bloggers for writing against religion. Then which one is true? Which particular path people should follow?”

She also questioned in whose interest the bloodletting has been going on.

Terming Islam the religion of peace, she said those who are polluting Islam do not believe in any religion.

Chaired by State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, the function was addressed, among others, by Rebeca Momen, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs Ministry; Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of Bangla Academy; Momtaj Begum, chairman of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha; and Selina Hossain, chairperson of Bangladesh Shishu Academy.