Time News Desk: Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud urged the people of walks of life to always remain vigilant about the communal instigators so that none can destroy the country's communal harmony.

‘Bangladesh was born as a non-communal state with the bloodshed of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,’ he said.

Hasan said that Bangladesh was born to create a non-communal state coming out from the communal state system of Pakistan.

He said these as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of a colourful procession of a five-day Sree Sree Jamnastami Utsab, one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, at the city's Andarkillah crorssing this morning.

‘There are a few political parties in Bangladesh who do politics by capitalizing on communalism. They give communal slogans during elections, saying Awami League is the party of Hindus. Bangladesh Awami League is the party of all people including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians,’ Dr Hasan added.

Former mayor and general secretary of Chattogram city Awami League AJM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the function.

Mikel Dey, convenor of Janmastami Udjapan Parishad Chattogram, presided over the function while Chattogram Metropolitan Police commissioner Krisnapada Roy, Sree Sree Janmashtami Udjapan Parishad Bangladesh president Sukumar Chowdhury, its general secretary engineer Prabir Kumar Sen and different religious organisations, professional bodies and public representatives attended the function.

Sree Sree Janmashtami Udjapan Parishad Bangladesh brought out a colourful rally that paraded different important streets.

Thousands of Hindu devotees irrespective of genders and ages including theologians, hermits, hundreds of students from different educational institutions joined the procession witnessed by onlookers and passers-by from either sides of city streets.

SK