Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government wants to attain economic development keeping the country free from terrorism and militancy.

‘It’s very much regretful that terrorism and militancy have now become a global problem. Actually, those who’re involved in militancy are just militants, they’ve no religion, country and border….They’re just militants... this is the fact. We want to keep Bangladesh free from these [menaces] and free it from poverty.’ she said, the UNB reported.

The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a programme when leaders of the Buddhist community greeted her on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at her official residence Ganobhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said now she can say the country is free from hunger. ‘We’ve to free the country from poverty. Currently, we’ve  21 percent poverty, the rate of ultra poor is 11 percent, we want to free the country from this ultra-poor, we’ll build the country as a poverty-free one, the government is working keeping that in mind,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said the government wants the development of all irrespective of religions and castes. ‘That’s our duty and that’s our political ideology.’

The government believes in communal harmony, she said adding, ‘In Bangladesh, people celebrate together the festival of any religion,’ she said.

Hasina said the responsibility of the state is to make sure that the people of all religions could perform their religious rituals peacefully and independently. ‘That’s secularism and non-communalism.’

She also said, ‘The Creator will decide what is good or bad, and what is right or wrong. The Almighty didn’t give that responsibility to human being.’

The Prime Minister said the government will ensure so that the people of Bangladesh can perform their religious rituals with dignity and sincerity. ‘This tolerance and brotherhood will prevail, and that’s our aim, we’re working to that end.’

She also urged all irrespective of their religious identities not to feel neglected.

Former Industries Minister Dilip Barua also spoke at the programme while special assistant to the Prime Minister Barrister Biplab Barua conducted it.

Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Dipangkar Talukder MP, Bandarban Zila Parishad Chairman Kyaw Shwe Hla, Rangamati Zila Parishad Chairman Dhumketu Chakma, Khagrachhari Zila Prishad Chairman Kongjuri Marma, Bangladesh Buddha Kristi Prochar Songha President Sanghanayak Shuddhananda Mohathero, International Buddha Bihar Principal Dhormamitra Mohathero, Shakkyamoni Buddha Bihar Principal Proggyananda Mohathero, Nobo Shalbon Bihar Principal Shilvodro Mohathero, Bangladesh Buddhist Federation General Secretary Sunanda Priyo Bhikkhu and BSMMU VC Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua were present.