Tarique Rahman Compares Sheikh Hasina’s Rule To ‘Kansa’ At Janmashtami Programme
Tarique Rahman invokes Kansa while referring to Bangladesh’s political past.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman compared former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Kansa, the tyrannical ruler of Mathura in Hindu tradition, while addressing a Janmashtami event in Dhaka on Thursday. Rahman made the remarks while greeting members of the Hindu community and distributing honorariums to priests and sebaits at a programme jointly organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.
Rahman attended the event as the chief guest at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium after walking from his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Extending Janmashtami greetings to Hindus in Bangladesh and around the world, he referred to the traditional account of Lord Krishna's birth in Mathura. He noted that Hindu believers regard Krishna's eventual defeat of Kansa as the triumph of righteousness over evil.
Drawing a parallel with Bangladesh's political history, Rahman referred to a "Kansa-like" ruler who, according to him, had deprived people of democratic rights for more than 15 years. Without directly naming Sheikh Hasina in that portion of his remarks, he described the political movement against the previous government as a collective effort involving people from different political and social backgrounds.
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Rahman also called for Bangladesh to move forward on the path of democracy, with greater focus on economic improvement, fair administration and law and order. He urged citizens to look beyond majority and minority identities and instead emphasise their shared Bangladeshi identity. His remarks came as concerns over the safety of minority communities, including Hindus, have remained part of Bangladesh's broader law-and-order debate.
During the programme, honorariums were distributed to nine priests and sebaits, while payments for priests and sebaits across Bangladesh were simultaneously transferred to their bank accounts through electronic fund transfer. The Hindu community in Bangladesh is scheduled to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna on Friday as part of Janmashtami observances.
Rahman also appealed for communal harmony and peace, warning against attempts to destabilise Bangladesh or create tensions among communities. He stressed that all citizens have equal rights and are entitled to security, while assuring the Hindu community of the government's commitment to their safety. He urged members of the community to celebrate Janmashtami and the upcoming Durga Puja peacefully and without fear, and extended advance greetings for the festival.
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