Leaders of all major religions stand together against terror

Leaders of various religious communities yesterday stressed strengthening religious harmony to tackle the possible rise of extremism in the country.

They said the core message of all religions is peace and a religion does not support extremism.

The government has to come forward and law enforcers should find out the persons and reasons behind the terrorist incidents and take appropriate measures against them, they added.

Against the backdrop of the recent attacks, Bangladesh Police held the event titled "Religious Harmony Conference" in the Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh auditorium in the capital.

Police in November and December last year held several views-exchanges with the country's alem-ulema in a bid to eliminate extremism through co-operations.

This time, police decided to involve all other religious leaders to spread the message and create awareness among people against extremism under a common platform.

At yesterday's event, Bangladesh Jamiatul Ulema Parishad Chairman Maulana Farid Uddin Masuod said, "There is no place of hatred in Islam. Religious leaders have to be careful about instigation while preaching and giving sermons."

As part of a campaign to curb extremism, the country's ulema have collected about 76,000 signatures of Imams from all over the country, he added.

Swami Dhrubrshananda Maharaj, principal of Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission and Math, said there is no place for communalism or extremism in Hindu religion.

He said co-operation among all religious groups is needed. "A single species of flower grows in a farm whereas different varieties blossom harmoniously in a garden," he said.

Archbishop Patrick D Rosario said religious harmony will be established when people will follow their own religion piously and create opportunity for others.

Satya Ranjan Baroi, president of International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Bangladesh, said religious harmony lies beneath patriotism.

He urged the police to identify people who are trying to destabilise the country and take necessary actions.

Maulana Obaidur Rahman said religious leaders should come forward when the country needs them.

Ashok Barua, general secretary of Bangladesh Buddhist Federation, said the Buddhist people will play their role actively to enhance religious harmony.

Shuddhananda Mahathero, president of Bangladesh Buddha Kristi Prachar Sangha, said the government has to come forward and help religious leaders while tackling extremists.

Speaking as the chief guest, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government will arrange programmes consisting of people from different religious groups at the divisional, district and upazila levels in the future.

The Home boss reiterated that there is no presence of global terror outfit Islamic State (IS) in the country and attacks had been carried out by home-grown terrorist outfits.

The IS ideology will never be established in the country, one or two killings do not mean that those are committed by them, he said.

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque said police will take zero tolerance against those who will try to destabilise religious harmony.

He urged religious leaders to speak against extremism at different events and avoid misinterpretation of religion while preaching and giving sermons.

He added police have so far solved around 80 percent of cases filed against terrorist attacks.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah was also present at the event