(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Hasina’s comments came just days after hundreds of thousands of supporters of an umbrella organization of Islamists held a massive rally in Dhaka.
In the protest held last Saturday, Islamists led by the Hefajat-e-Islam organization converged on Dhaka's main commercial hub to protest against latest writings by atheist bloggers, said to insult Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Marching to Dhaka's Motijheel commercial area, protesters called for a new blasphemy law, with the provision of the death penalty to punish those who insult Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
As part of their push for a change in the law, the Hefajat-e-Islam organisation on Monday forced the closure of schools and businesses across the country as part of a general strike.
Leading a secular government in the Muslim-majority country since 2009, Hasina said existing laws were adequate to prosecute anyone accused of insulting a religion.
“This country is a secular democracy. So each and every religion has the right to practice their religion freely and fair,” she said and added,“But it is not fair to hurt anybody's religious feeling. Always we try to protect every religious sentiment.”
Tension has gripped Bangladesh in recent weeks over postings by bloggers seen as insulting Islam.
Despite ruling out a new blasphemy law, Sheikh Hasina promised to meet reasonable demands from Islamic groups.
Under existing cyber laws, anyone convicted of defaming a religion on the Internet can be jailed for up to 10 years.
Death sentences against Islamist leaders on alleged war crimes during the 1971 war also have caused deadly clashes in Bangladesh last month.
End item/ 149
