Bangladesh: Inter-religious meet on "Unity for peace, harmony and Child Protection"

Rajshahi diocesan Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue organized a seminar on the "Unity for peace, harmony and Child Protection" at Dhamoirhat in Naogaon on November 5. 

Selected religious and social leaders of different religions participated in the Inter-religious dialogue program arranged by Rajshahi Diocese Christian Unity and Interfaith Dialogue Commission and World Vision Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a multi-religious country and here, people of different faiths have been living in peace and harmony for decades. So, it is our moral duty to respect all religions and make a dialogue to know each other.

Chairman of Dhamoirhat Upazila Parishad Md. Azahar Ali was the chief guest at the event; Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ariful Islam was the special guest, Dhamoirhat Police Station Officer-In-Charge (OC) Md. Mozammel Haque Kazi, Mr. Bimal Ruram, Manager, World Vision Bangladesh, Dhamoirhat AP.

During the event, the chief guest and special guests highlighted in their respective ways that in Bangladesh, there is harmony, although there have been several anti-harmony incidents which have been suppressed with a strong hand.

Md. Mozammel Haque Kazi (OC) congratulated the commission in his welcome speech assuring that he is committed to providing any legal assistance and security to maintain peace and harmony in Dhamoirhat Upazila.

Bimal Ruram, Manager of Naogaon Area Project Coordinator for World Vision Bangladesh, gave a very realistic presentation on child protection. He gave real examples of child marriage, child labour, child beating, child mental abuse and many other forms and methods of child abuse. He clearly stated in his speech what we should do in child protection.

Md. Abdul Rauf, an Islam teacher at Dhamoirhat Girls High School said, "Islam is a religion of peace." He highlighted the harmonious brotherhood of Muslims towards non-Muslims by referring to several verses of the Holy Qur'an and referring to the great prophet of Islam, Prophet Mohammad, his teachings and ideals."

One of the teachers from the Hindu religion Aproba Kumar Mondal said, "In the present time dialogue is very important” and he used several verses from the Holy Gita on peace and harmony to show that “people must be loved; along with all living creatures.”

He also shed light on Shanti (Peace) and Sampriti (dialogue), citing Swami Vivekananda

Father Patrick Gomes, secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, spoke about the Christian vision of peace and dialogue. He cited the teachings and sayings of Jesus on peace and harmony from the Holy Bible. "Where there is peace, there is the presence of Jesus," he said.

Acknowledging the need for dialogue he said,  "The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is holy, true and beautiful in other religions."

On behalf of the participants, Molana E. Rabbani said, that this was a successful and worthwhile program and expressed the wish to have such meetings more often.

At the end of the seminar Father Patrick Gomes, secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, thanked everyone. - Nikhil Gomes