The Bangladesh Awami League has extended its warmest greetings and best wishes to all Hindu citizens on the occasion of Rath Jatra 2025.
In a statement, the party hoped that the Rath Jatra would be joyful, safe, and auspicious amid the persistent attacks on the Hindus and other minority communities under the Islamist-backed interim government.
โRath Yatra is a glorious and traditional festival of Hindus. This festival carries the message of devotion, tolerance, and humanity, which further strengthens the strong foundation of our communal harmony.
โInspired by the ideals of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh Awami League is determined to ensure equal rights and dignity for people of all religions, castes and communities. We believe that each religion has its own, and the festival is for everyone.
โLet us move forward on this day of Rath Jatra with the commitment of unity, peace, and human welfare,โ the statement said.
The chariot festival of Sri Jagannath Dev, which is one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, ended on Saturday (July 5) with the celebration of Ulto Ratha Jatra (reverse journey).
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) chalked out a nine-day programme in Dhaka. The festival began with the Rath Jatra procession and other rituals on June 27.
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Thousands of Hindu homes, businesses, and temples have been attacked since the August 5 changeover. While the government failed to prevent the attacks, it also denied that Islamists carried out the attacks as a minority persecution.
Instead, the Yunus-led government maintains that the Hindus were attacked for supporting the Awami League.
The government neither arrested the perpetrators nor gave compensation to the victims as per the laws of the country. Instead, hundreds of Hindu leaders, including Chinmoy Prabhu Das, have been imprisoned without trial for raising their voices against persecution.
Awami League President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the communal attacks on the Hindus and minority communities and vowed to ensure justice.
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