Dhaka (PTI): There is no plan to change the national anthem of Bangladesh, the country's Religious Affairs Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain said on Saturday.

“The interim government will not do anything to create controversy,” Hossain told the media after visiting the Islamic Foundation in Rajshahi and attending a gathering of dignitaries.

This comes after Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, the son of former Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ghulam Azam, earlier this week called for a change in the country's national anthem and Constitution.

He said: "I leave the matter of the national anthem to this government. The current national anthem we have is contrary to the existence of our independent Bangladesh. It reflects the time of the Bengal partition and the merging of the two Bengals. How can an anthem created to unite the two Bengals become the national anthem of an independent Bangladesh? This anthem was imposed on us by India in 1971. Many songs could serve as a national anthem. The government should form a new commission to select a new national anthem."

Hossain said Bangladesh, as a neighbouring country, wants a friendly relationship with India.

“We have heard reports of attacks on our cricket team in India. Since the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in charge, they will decide on the necessary course of action,” Dhaka Tribune quoted the advisor as saying.

Terming attacks on mosques, temples, and shrines as "heinous", Hossain said: “Those who attack places of worship are enemies of humanity. They are criminals, and they will be prosecuted under existing laws.”

Hossain further said local citizens as well as madrasa students will guard temples during the Durga Puja to prevent any attack or sabotage.

“Madrasa students were never involved in terrorism. That was propaganda and conspiracy by the previous government.” The advisor said that after the change in government, there had been attacks on the houses of some members of the Hindu community just as Muslim houses were attacked and this should not be viewed differently.

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Ballia (UP) (PTI): Police in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh arrested a criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head following an encounter late on Saturday night, a police official said, adding that he sustained a gunshot injury on his left leg.

Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Kripa Shankar said that acting on a tip-off, a team of the Garhwar police station and the SOG (Special Operations Group) attempted to apprehend the wanted criminal at around 10.15 pm on Saturday. Upon realising that he was surrounded by the police, the criminal allegedly fired at the police.

The police fired in self-defence, and the criminal sustained injuries on his left leg, the officer said, adding that he was subsequently arrested.

He has been identified as Tenger Nat (35), a resident of the Kharhatar village under the Gadwar police station area.

According to the ASP, Nat has been sent to the community health centre in Ratsar, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

The arrested accused has allegedly been involved in numerous incidents of theft in Garhwar, Sukhpura, and Nagra police station areas of the district.

The police recovered a country-made pistol and cartridges from his possession.