Bangladesh a Beacon of Religious Pluralism in South Asia: Foreign Minister Dr. Momen

Shamim Ahmad, Washington, D.C., 18 July : Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen has called for inculcating a mindset of tolerance and mutual respect among different religions and races to achieve sustainable peace and stability across the world.

Delivering a statement at the second ministerial to “Advance Religious Freedom” at the State Department Thursday, he recognized the fact that millions of people around the globe are degraded, demonized and persecuted because of their religious orientation.

“…We stand proud today with the USA to ensure that people of any belief can live a life with human dignity and free from any fear of persecution or hatred,” Dr. Momen said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered the keynote statement at the ministerial. Foreign Ministers, Ministers and leaders of the delegations from different countries attended the event.

Describing Bangladesh as a beacon of religious pluralism, harmony, and freedom, Momen said inspired by the ideals of democracy, secularism and social justice and led by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh is committed to ensuring equal rights for the members of all faiths and religions.

“The inalienable right of freedom of religion is guaranteed in our constitution,” he told the ministerial.

The Foreign Minister said after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members on 15 August 1975, all-out efforts were made to change the fabric of Bangladesh and pushed religious freedom to the brink of disappearance.

Notwithstanding twists and turns in its journey, he said the country is now back on track to uphold religious pluralism and rights of minorities as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is holding the mantle of state affairs. Despite challenges, he said the confidence of minorities returned, and they are enjoying the full spectrum of religious freedom. Dr. Momen noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is an ardent advocate of religious freedom, and she has been actively promoting non-communalism and peaceful coexistence of all. Her government maintains a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to any form of violence and discrimination against the religious minorities, under any pretext, he added. 

He said: “The government believes that radical views and extreme interpretations of religious scriptures are no longer confined to a particular religion or group. It considers terrorists are simply terrorists regardless of their faith, ethnicity, cast, and color.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, has been promoting a national slogan “Religion unto individual, festivals unto all” to promote tolerance and create a sense of accommodation among religious sects.

The Foreign Minister said a new law has been enacted to prevent provocation, incitement and hate speech against any religion to maintain communal harmony, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence.

He said Madrasah education is being modernized. The government has allocated around US$ 900 million this year for this purpose.

Characterizing Bangladesh as a land of humanity, Momen said when Rohingyas were subjected to genocidal atrocities in Myanmar and crossed over to Bangladesh to save their lives, Bangladesh provided shelter to them regardless of their faith and dealt with the situation in humanitarian ways. 

On the role of media in promoting religious freedom, he said the media and use of modern technology are two important tools for promoting religious freedom in the present day world. “Unfortunately, we often see that both the tools are adversely used to stifle religious freedom.”

Momen regretted that media is often seen to propagate hate and intolerance that threatens peace and stability and creates animus division among different religious sects.

The Foreign Minister proposed to host such a ministerial at the regional level in Bangladesh soon.