People of all religions enjoying equal rights

Left-Right: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, currently serving as the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Roman Curia, calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Vatican's Department), calls on President Zillur Rahman at Bangabhaban in the city yesterday.Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said communal harmony is prevailing in the country as people of all religions living here are enjoying equal rights.
The prime minister said when Eminence Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue Based in Vatican paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the morning.
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting.
Hasina told the special envoy of the Pope Benedict XVI that apart from ensuring religious fraternity among the people, the government is working relentlessly also to ensure people's access to quality education and health services.
In this regard, she said the government has taken programme to provide free textbooks to the students up to secondary level.
She also mentioned about the recently launched e-book which makes 106 primary and secondary level textbooks available on website.
Hasina recalled her meeting with Pope Benedict XVI last year in the Vatican City.
The special envoy of Pope lauded the prime minister for her visionary leadership in upholding religious harmony and in other socio-economic sectors.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran termed Bangladesh an ideal country of religious harmony and peace.
Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad and Vatican Ambassador in Dhaka Joseph Marino were present.