Foreign Minister and Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year, is the symbol of non-communalism.

"Non-communalism is the main driving force of our nation and Pahela Baishakh festival is a symbol of it," he told the 'Baishakhi Utsab 1431' program organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Office Spouses' Association (FOSA) at Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital as the chief guest.

He said Bangladesh had emerged as an independent state in 1971 through the Great War of Liberation after breaking the then communal state system of Pakistan with the aim of building a non-communal state under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"And under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Pahela Baishakh festival, which became a universal festival irrespective of castes and religions, is today the embodiment of our secularism," he added.

Hasan further said that Awami League, which led the war of independence, believes that the nation's first identity is that 'We are Bangalees' while the second one is 'Who are we and what religion we belong to'.

The mantra of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is 'Religion is for individuals while festivals for all', he said, adding: "That's why, today in Bangladesh people of all religions unite in festivals like Eid, Puja and Prabarana Purnima".

Earlier, the foreign minister answered various questions of journalists.

About the nomination of David Slayton Meale as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Bangladesh by the United States, Hasan welcomed it hoping that the new ambassador will further advance the cooperation of the US with Bangladesh.

About the recent White House briefing over human rights, he said human rights in Bangladesh are better than many countries. "Human rights are not in ideal position in any country of the world," he added.

He said in the United States it was seen on TV that how the police were suppressing the movement of students in favor of the Palestinians. "We also saw how the police are suppressing civil movements on behalf of Palestinians in various European countries," he added.

He said all countries should work together for development of human rights and showed keen interest to work for development of human rights with Bangladesh's development partners.