Communal forces active ahead of polls: info minister

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud today said the communal forces try to hatch a conspiracy when the election comes.

"Most of the Bangalee people are not communal. For this, the communal forces couldn't raise their head. The evil forces have been subdued by our combined efforts," he said.

The minister said the evil forces try to hatch conspiracies ahead of polls. So, everyone should remain alert, he added.

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, made the remarks while addressing the inaugural function of Shuvo Mahalaya at Banani Puja Mandap in the capital this morning.

Gulshan-Banani Sarbojanin Puja Foundation organised the event.

The minister said the present government, in the last 15 years, tried to bring back the original spirit of the nation which was lost after 1975. A state should never have such types of laws like the "enemy property law". A different law has been made to abolish it and a lot of work has been done in this way, he added.

He said the communal evil forces should be resisted to strengthen the non-communal spirit of Bangladesh.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina repeatedly said that "religion is for individuals, festivals are for all... religion is for individuals, state is for all'.

"We see the reflection of it in all religious festivals including Eid, Durga Puja, and Prabarana Purnima, where people of all religions join the festivities," said Hasan.

Foundation president Panna Lal Datta, general secretary Pran Krishna Ghosh and leader Santosh Sharma, among others, addressed the function., conducted by Manoj Sen Gupta.