Dhaka: Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Monday urged all to be vocal against discrepancy and the abuse of religion to uphold the achievements of the country’s independence.

‘It’s unconstitutional to destroy unity abusing religions. The key achievement of our independence is to ensure equal rights of all. It’s not acceptable in any way to create any division and disparity among people based on religions. Discrepancy is against principle, tradition and religion,’ he said, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a condolence meeting at the Jatiya Press Club in memory of those killed in the recent terror attacks at two mosques in New Zeeland’s Christchurch, Dr Kamal also said, ‘As a nation, we’re non-communal and we wholeheartedly believe in religious harmony as we co-exist with the people of all religions here.’

The Oikyafront chief strongly condemned the attacks at two mosques in New Zeeland’s Christchurch.

Mentioning that there is a constitutional obligation that the religion cannot be abused, the veteran jurist said as the citizens of an independent country, it is the responsibility of all to build harmony with all religions.

Dr, Kamal also the president of Gono Forum, said the values of religious harmony must be spread among people across the country to maintain the achievements of the independence.

‘I would like to unequivocally say people’s rights must be protected. There’s no scope to create disparity in the name of religion in our country. It’s very significant that we’re raising voice against the abuse of religion on the eve of our Independence Day since the main goal of our Liberation War was to protect the rights of all,’ he said.

Dr Kamal said religions were abused during the Pakistani rule to create divisions among people. ‘Pakistani rulers used to nurture communalism to divide people based on religions.’

‘I won’t forget the incident when I was picked up (by Pakistani occupation forces). I was asked whether I’m a Muslim or a Bangalee. I smiled saying it’s a meaningless question. They got angry as I smiled and said they can shoot me,’ Dr Kamal recalled.

He said the Pakistani rulers also used religion to grab power and hang onto power. ‘We had to wage the Liberation War to get rid of it. We achieved the victory and we’ll celebrate our Independence Day tomorrow (Tuesday).   

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, constitutional expert Dr Shahdeen Malik, ex-cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder and Dhaka University Professors Dr Asif Nazrul and Dr Sukomal Barua, among others, spoke at the programme held with Kalyan Party chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim in the chair.