Minister for Social Welfare Enamul Hoque Mostafa Shahid yesterday said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to build Bangladesh as a secular state attaching equal behaviour to people of all religions.

The minister made a clarion call for extending united support to Prime Minister and Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina from people of all walks of life irrespective of caste, creed and affiliation for building a secular state by the tenure of the present government.

The minister said this while addressing a function on Shuvo Probarana Purnima and Katin Chibor Dan Utshab (yellow robe offering ceremony) held at Naba Pandit Bihar at Katalganj in the port city yesterday afternoon.

He said the present government extends hands to all regions for changing the day under the leadership of Hasina and wants equal cooperation from all for implementing the government agenda.

"We want to prove in the tenure of the present government that it preserves and upholds really equal rights of all religions in the country," the minister added.

Keeping this in view. Shahid said over Tk 5 crore would be spent for developing Buddhist monasteries and temples, practising Buddhism and promoting education of students.

He referred to Charyapada, the lyrics of Buddhist hermits, origin of Bengali language, and urged the members of the Buddhist community to be adhered to the essence of Buddhism for building the country as non-violence peaceful abode.

President of Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Sanga, Venerable Shudduanada Mohathero, presided over the function. Additional Divisional Commissioner Shyama Pada Dey, religious leader Venerable Darmapaul Mohathero and President of Bangladesh Bouddha Mohashaba Prof Banoshri Mohatero. among others, addressed the function.