Stern action taken against those involved in communal violence: Info minister

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud today said stern action has been taken against those involved in the recent communal violence in his country and that secularism is the soul of his country.

Mahamud, who is on a visit to West Bengal, said "secularism is the soul" of Bangladesh and its Constitution and blamed former President H M Ershad for bringing religion into the Constitution, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"We have taken stern action against the culprits involved in the violence. We don't believe in Hindus or Muslims in Bangladesh. First of all, we are Bengalis, only then we are known by our religion.

"The culprits who are involved in the incident wanted to create anarchy in the country. The activists of BNP-Jamaat were involved in those attacks," he told media persons in Kolkata after inaugurating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman media centre at Kolkata Press Club.

The minister said nearly 32,000 Durga Pujas were held in Bangladesh this year and "such attacks" took place only in a few puja mandaps.

"Those who had opposed our freedom, liberation war and are close to Pakistan want to disturb the peace and communal harmony of our country," Mahmud said.

Asked if there was any plan to keep religion out of Bangladesh Constitution, Mahmud said "secularism is the soul of Bangladesh".

"The Constitution that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had formed in 1972 had secularism as its spirit and that is our spirit. But it was General Ershad who had brought in religion in the constitution," he said.