New Delhi: The Hindu festival of Janmashtami was observed in Bangladesh on Saturday (August 17), with the chief adviser of the country’s interim government Muhammad Yunus greeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh on the occasion of the festival.

In his message, Yunus said that Lord Krishna’s teachings will help strengthen “mutual goodwill and brotherhood” and maintain the nation’s “existing order and communal harmony,” reported Press Trust of India.

Yunus’s message to the Hindu community comes at a time when India has repeatedly raised concerns over alleged atrocities against the country’s Hindu minority.

“I call upon everyone to remain vigilant so that no one can undermine the existing order, fraternity, and communal amity in society. I believe that the ideals and teachings of Lord Sri Krishna will further strengthen the bonds of mutual goodwill and brotherhood,” said Yunus in the statement.

Yunus said that communal harmony is a “unique hallmark” of Bangladesh’s culture and reiterated that his interim government is “committed to keeping this bond of harmony unbroken”.

“Let us, through our collective efforts, build a new Bangladesh free from discrimination and enriched with communal harmony,” said Yunus.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman joined the Janmashtami celebrations in Dhaka and said that Bangladesh belongs to everyone, and there should be no discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, race or community.

"You will live in this country without fear. We will always stand by your side," said the Bangladesh army chief, reported Economic Times.

Janmashtami is a public holiday in Bangladesh.

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