Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said religion is a matter of faith and reverence for people and should not be used for political interests to create division or bloodshed among them.

“Bangladesh belongs to people of all religions and communities. Therefore, we must build a beautiful and livable Bangladesh by maintaining communal harmony and peaceful coexistence,” he said.

The law minister made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at a discussion and cultural programme organized by the Dhaka Bar Association at its auditorium on the occasion of the auspicious Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna.

As the chief guest, the law minister said religion is a matter of faith and reverence and concerns both this life and the afterlife. “Religion should not be brought into politics in a way that leads to bloodshed. No politics based on communalism or any kind of business using religion should be allowed,” he said.

He said Bangladesh is a country for people of all religions and communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. Every citizen should be able to practise their own religion while respecting the faith and beliefs of others. Everyone must play a role in establishing a communalism-free Bangladesh based on peaceful coexistence among all communities, he added.

The law minister further said the story of Lord Krishna’s birth teaches people to establish justice against injustice, oppression and cruelty. “No matter how powerful someone may be, no one can escape the consequences of injustice and cruelty,” he said.

He said regardless of a person’s religious identity, justice, honesty and humanity should be the foremost considerations while performing responsibilities in different spheres of the state and society.

“In a court, a lawyer’s identity is not defined by his or her religious identity. Rather, as a lawyer, he or she performs the responsibility of establishing justice. This spirit of mutual respect and harmony must also be upheld in every sphere of society,” the minister said.

He said Bangladesh should be built as a country where people of all religions and communities can live together peacefully.

“It is the responsibility of all of us to build Bangladesh as a beautiful, peaceful and livable land for the next generation,” he added.

Dhaka Senior District and Sessions Judge Md Shahjahan Kabir, Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Rafiqul Islam, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman and Acting Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Mahbubur Rahman, among others, were present at the programme. Judicial officials from different levels, leaders of the Dhaka Bar Association and its general members also attended the event.