President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday called upon people of all faiths and communities to work together, maintaining mutual harmony, to build an inclusive, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh.

He made the call when a delegation of the Sri Sri Hari-Guruchand Matua Mission Central Committee, led by its President Sri Padmanabha Thakur, paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.

The President said people from all communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, had fought together in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

“We achieved an independent Bangladesh through the unity of all. Any attempt to undermine this unity and communal harmony must be strongly resisted,” he said.

Mirza Fakhrul said Hindus and Muslims in Bangladesh have maintained a longstanding social bond, and everyone must remain vigilant to preserve this harmony.

He called for taking various programmes and specific development plans for the advancement and welfare of the disadvantaged Matua community and assured them of all-out cooperation.

Referring to attempts to create divisions among people from different communities and to spread negative propaganda within just seven months of the democratic government's assuming office, the President said such efforts were undesirable.

He said rebuilding the country's economy after the destruction of its economic structure was a difficult task, but the government was working relentlessly with various initiatives and plans to move the country forward.

The President also urged all to remain alert so that the opportunity created to establish an inclusive and democratic system in the country could not be undermined by anyone.

He expressed hope that the country would be able to reach its desired goal with people from all communities working together under the leadership of the present government.

The delegation invited the President to visit the Sri Dham Orakandi Thakur Bari, a pilgrimage site of the Matua community.

The President assured them that he would visit the site.

Among others, Sri Sri Hari-Guruchand Matua Mission Central Committee Executive President and reserved women's seat lawmaker Subarna Sikder (Thakur), committee advisers Ahsan Habib Apu and Somen Kumar Saha, General Secretary Debashish Biswas, and Nityananda Mondal, president of the Matua Mission Khulna district committee, were present.

The President's Military Secretary, Secretary and Press Secretary were also present.