On Christmas Day, Bangladesh once again witnesses a celebration that goes beyond the Christian calendar -- it illuminates our nation’s plural foundations.

This is a day observed with warmth by our Christian community and acknowledged widely across Bangladesh, with the rest of the world, reminding us that religious festivals in this country have always been shared experiences that bind us rather than divide us.

Christmas in Bangladesh -- locally known as Boro Din -- is not merely a holiday for a portion of the population. It is a reflection of religious freedom and cultural coexistence.

Our secular spirit preserved in the Constitution guarantees freedom of belief, and over the decades, holidays such as Eid, Durga Puja, Buddha Purnima, and Christmas have become markers of a society that genuinely honours diversity.

Yet, this spirit of secular togetherness -- celebrated in festive greetings and shared feasts -- must be more than symbolic. It is imperative to acknowledge the ongoing challenge in Bangladesh: Not of the absence of harmony, but the fragility of tolerance in the face of divisive rhetoric and sporadic communal tensions.

Religion is often weaponized for political gain, threatening the very unity that should define us.

What this Christmas calls for now, more than ever, is a recommitment to pluralism and mutual respect. We must ensure that all religious communities -- regardless of their size -- feel genuinely respected and protected.

This is more than just about combating bigotry; it is about nurturing an everyday culture of inclusion, where every place or method of worship symbolizes coexistence and not conflict.

Bangladesh’s strength has always lied in its diversity, and this Christmas, we must strive to uphold that spirit not only in words but in practice; it is the only way to safeguard a future where every citizen fully belongs, and where our shared identity as Bangladeshis always comes first. 

We wish our readers a Merry Christmas.