New Delhi: Bangladesh army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman reaffirmed the secular foundations of the country on the occasion of Janmashtami, saying that the people would follow the ideals of Krishna and live together.
“This country belongs to everyone. There will be no division based on religion, ethnicity, or community. You will live in this country without fear. We will always stand by your side,” General Zaman said in a speech originally in Bangla at a gathering Saturday in Dhaka.
In a symbolic show of solidarity, General Zaman, Navy chief Admiral M.Nazmul Hassan, and air force chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan attended the central Janmashtami festival and procession at the Palashi intersection.
Their unified presence, alongside Major General Md Moin Khan, General Officer Commanding of the 9th Infantry Division, was described by Hindu community leaders as an unprecedented and historic gesture, according to local papers.
The remarks, delivered from the grounds of the Dhakeshwari temple, a symbolic space for the Hindu community, carried additional weight as they came amid reported incidents of violence and discrimination against the Hindus following the appointment of interim leader Muhammad Yunus in August last year.
General Zaman framed the military’s presence as part of a broader pledge to defend Bangladesh’s pluralist identity. “Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, hill people, and Bengalis, we have all lived together in peace for centuries,” he said. “Whatever support and assistance you seek from us, Insha’Allah, we will provide it.”
Admiral Hassan echoed the sentiments, saying that Janmashtami is more than a religious festival: it is “a call for peace, harmony, and humanity.” Quoting the teachings of Lord Krishna, the admiral emphasised justice, equality, and solidarity with the oppressed.
“Our law enforcement and armed forces stand ready to ensure the safety of all religious events,” he said. “The world should see this Janmashtami procession as proof that Bangladesh is a land of harmony.”
Air Chief Marshal Khan offered a personal reflection, recalling his upbringing in Old Dhaka, near the historic Joykali temple. “I grew up with Hindu and Christian friends. Since childhood, we never discriminated based on religion,” he said. “That unity must be preserved, it is essential for peace and progress.”
Earlier, Yunus extended greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami, expressing hope that the teachings of Lord Krishna would help foster “mutual goodwill and brotherhood” while preserving the country’s “existing order and communal harmony.”
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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If you admire Bhagwan Sri Krishna so much, the doors of Shuddhi are always open.
Otherwise, we aren’t falling for lip service to Krishna and simultaneous butchering of Krishna worshippers for being infidels/heathens.