US, BD, others to ensure religious freedom of all: FM

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has said Bangladesh and the USA along with their friends and partners would continue to ensure and advance religious freedom for people.

US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel D Brownback welcomed Minister Ali at the US Department of State and had a meeting on Wednesday and exchanged views on advancing religious freedom.

Ambassador Brownback, former Governor of Kansas and a US Senator, thanked Foreign Minister Ali for accepting the invitation of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to participate in the first ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom (MARF) being held on July 25-26 at the US Department of State in Washington, D.C.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Ali elaborated different aspects of religious freedom being practised in Bangladesh, and the mass celebration of Bangla New Year, a truly secular national festival, which brings together the people of all faiths, and recitation of Holy Books of all major religions at the beginning of any national event.  

He also reiterated the commitment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government in promoting religious tolerance and communal harmony in Bangladesh society, said a press release. 

Minister Ali also maintained that there is a resonance of religious freedom in Bangladesh as the US is organising the Ministerial. 

Brownback mentioned that MARF is aimed at establishing a global standard for ensuring religious freedom regardless of countries. 

He highly appreciated Bangladesh's role in hosting 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar irrespective of their faiths.

Source: unb