United Nations Undersecretary General Adama Dieng yesterday expressed deep concern over violence against minority communities.

Adama Dieng, also the UN special adviser on genocide prevention, said democracy has to be established by ensuring rights of the minorities.

He made the comments at a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad at its office in capital's Paltan, says a press release.

In his welcome speech, Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Parishad, appraised him about the current situation of the minorities and their concern over the security situation centring on the next general election.

Adama Dieng said overall development of a country is not possible avoiding religious and racial minorities and no society can survive without diversity, according to a press statement.

“If minorities are continuously subjected to hatred, intolerance, torture and attacks, it would be dangerous for the whole country,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Like 1971, when people of all religions and communities fought unitedly to achieve independence, the same thing is needed for the prosperity of the country, he said.

With Hubert Gomez, one of the presidents of the Parishad, in the chair, the meeting was attended, among others, by Manindra Kumar Nath, Milan Kanti Dutt, Jayanta Kumar Deb, Tapash Kumar Pal, Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee and Tapas Kanti Baul.