Muslims, Hindus unite to guard Bangladesh temple, debunk rumours

Dhaka, PTI: A priest at the ancient Dhakeswari Temple of the revered shrine said several Hindus, Muslims and others from the local community had come together to guard it soon after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh.

The centuries-old temple in old Dhaka has many mosques in its vicinity and chimes of temple bells at times merge with the sound of 'azaan' emerging from nearby mosques.

While a young married couple had come to seek blessings for their twomonth-old daughter, a woman lit candles at a corner of the temple courtyard facing the sanctum sanctorum and diligently prayed.

Ashim Maitro, one of the main priests, some of whose family members also live in West Bengal, says the evening aarti of this temple is performed at 7 pm, nearly 30 minutes after the Maghrib prayer at mosques nearby.

"I was not feeling afraid for myself but just concerned about the safety of our old temple and idols of deities here. The temple committee members were also present and we closed the doors and the main gate," the priest recalled. Clad in his trademark kurta-pyjama, Yunus sat along with the officials and interacted with the Hindu community at the temple premises.

"Yes, I was there when he visited the temple. They welcomed him (Yunus) with the beating of the 'dhak', and I and other priests brought him to pay respect to the deity. " Maitro recalled.

Fasting & puja can coexist in B'desh: Adviser

The Religious Affairs Adviser of the interim government in Bangladesh has asserted that there is no problem in observing fasting and puja at the same time in the country as he called for building a harmonious state where all faiths coexist peacefully.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A F M KhaliwwHossain: "I want to give the nation a harmonious state. Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. There is no problem in observing fasting and puja at the same time in this country. Everyone will practice and publicise his or her own religion freely. It is a civic right of all."