Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged people to remain vigilant against rumours and attempts to provoke people through social media, saying that no communal provocation or hatred should be allowed to create instability in society.

“Some people are spreading rumours in various ways to destabilise the country. Some are trying to incite people through social media,” he said while exchanging greetings with the Hindu community members marking Janmashtami at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

Tarique assured that his government is committed to ensuring the security of every citizen, regardless of caste or creed.

Janmashtami, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community commemorating the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, will be celebrated across the country on Friday with due religious fervour and gaiety.

Wishing the Hindu community on Janmashtami, the Prime Minister said that Bangladesh belongs to everyone and all citizens here enjoy equal rights.

He said every citizen has the constitutional right to live according to their own religious beliefs and culture, stressing that the government and BNP believe that while religion is personal, the state belongs to everyone.

“Religion is individual, but everyone has the right to security,” the Prime Minister said.

He called upon all to further strengthen religious harmony, tolerance, mutual respect and the bonds of goodwill and communal harmony.

“On the occasion of Janmashtami, I call upon everyone to strengthen further the bonds of religious harmony, tolerance, mutual respect and goodwill and harmony,” he said.

Tarique also wished the Hindu community peace, comfort and security in celebrating all their religious festivals, and extended advance greetings for Durga Puja.

“Following the Janmashtami festival, the religious and social festival of Durga Puja is ahead of you. Celebrate all the festivals peacefully, comfortably and safely. I once again extend my greetings on Janmashtami as well as advance greetings for Durga Puja,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the presence of people of different religions and beliefs in a state and society is the beauty of a diverse society.

The Prime Minister said people in Bangladesh had traditionally lived together with mutual respect, goodwill and harmony while practising their respective religions and cultures.

However, at different times, he said people with the character of Kamsa, the tyrannical and wicked king of Mathura ,have tried to create and prolong divisions and conflicts in the state and society.

Tarique called upon the country’s all citizens to remain alert so that anti-social forces could not raise their heads again or disrupt the existing environment of communal harmony.

He said maintaining mutual goodwill and harmony in society is the responsibility of every citizen.

Referring to the story of Lord Krishna, Tarique said Krishna was born in Mathura about 5,500 years ago when the city was ruled by the cruel and authoritarian King Kamsa.

According to Hindu belief, Krishna's mission included the destruction of evil and protection of the righteous, he said.