Interreligious Harmony Week 2014 – Dhaka rally
Interreligious Harmony Rally
Campus of the University of Dhaka
2 February 2014
Dear Peace-loving brothers and sisters of the world,
Please accept my greetings of peace.
On the occasion of Interreligious Harmony Week declared by the United Nations,
The Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (CIID) of the Department of World Religions and Culture of the University of Dhaka, in collaboration with International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), United Religions Initiative (URI), Religions for Peace(RfP) and Warm Heart Association Bangladesh (WHAB), held an INTERRELIGIOUS HARMONY RALLY on February 2, in the campus of the University of Dhaka.
The Rally was inaugurated by Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique,the Vice Chancellor of the University.Speaking on the occasion were:
Professor Hirendra Nath Biswas,President of National Hindu Reformation Society; Professor Sumonkati Barua, a reputed Buddhist scholar; Bhai Manjit Singh of Gurudwara Nanakshahi, Dhaka; Professor Father Tapan De Rozario of the Departmet of World Religions; Professor Muhammad Elius of the same Department; and Professor KAM Saaduddin, a renowned sociologist of Bangladesh.Many distinguished professors including Professor Azizun Nahar Islam, Professor Nusrat Sultana and Professor Mahbubur Rahman, and hundreds of students joined this Rally.
Professor Kazi Nurul Islam conducted the whole programme.
Different electronic and printed media gave massive coverage of this Rally.Please pray to God so that we can continue our endeavour to promote world peace and harmony.
With regards to all of you.
Yours in peace
Kazi Nurul Islam
[Chair of IARF Bangladesh Chapter]
Bangladesh attacks on Hindus condemned
“Dear Peace Loving People of the World,
The Executive Communities of International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), United Religions Initiative (URI) and Religions for Peace (RfP) Bangladesh in an emergency joint meeting condemned with the strongest possible language against the atrocities done towards the Hindu communities in the recent past particularly, on the 2nd November, 2013 in Pabna (Northern Part of Bangladesh).
The members present urged upon the Govt. of Bangladesh and the people of conscience to come forward so that such kinds of atrocities towards the Hindu communities cannot take place in future. They condemned the Islamic political party namely, Jamat-e-Islam of Bangladesh and its students wing SHIBIR for creating all these heinous acts which are against Human Rights, Religious Freedom and especially against the teachings of Islam, which is, in truest sense of the term, a Religion of Peace.
The meeting was presided over by [Chair of IARF Bangladesh Chapter] Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam, Professor and Founding Chair, Department of World Religions and Culture; and Director, Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka.
Yours in Peace: Md. Abu Taher, a Human Rights Activist of Bangladesh”.
Bangladesh Chapter president honoured
Dhaka, Bangladesh
7 December 2012
The Gurudwara of Dhaka celebrated the 500th year of Guru Nanak’s visit to Dhaka and his stay on the present Gurudwara campus, then known as Nanak’s Chapra.
About 300 Sikhs from India attended the program.
President of IARF’s Bangladesh Chapter, Prof. Kazi Nurul Islam, received special recognition at a reception, in the form of a Crest brought from Punjab, in recognition of h is contribution to the promotion of Sikh Studies, at home and abroad.
“Dhaka Gurdwara gets Sikh History Research Centre: There is virtually no Sikh population in Dhaka, Bangladesh, yet a Sikh History Research Centre has been established in the complex of Gurdwara Nanak Shahi by Sampradaya Karsewa, Sarhali (Punjab) for the research and propagation of Sikhism. Kazi Nurul Islam, Founder Chairman of the Department of World Religions, has been appointed as its honorary director”. ( Source )
In addition, on 26th December the University of Dhaka formally awarded him a Gold Medal, certificate and Crest for his lifelong contribution in promoting inter-religious harmony both in Bangladesh and abroad.
Bangladesh chapter statement on anti-Buddhist riots
Attack on the Buddhists and their Temples in Bangladesh
A Report by IARF Bangladesh Chapter
07 October 2012
On the night of the 29th September 2012 a militant group of people attacked the Buddhist communities of Ramu, a small town in the district of Cox’s Bazar of Chittagong division in Bangladesh. The culprits set fire on more than fifty houses and damaged twelve Buddhist temples. Most of the houses attacked were burnt into ashes and all the temples attacked were seriously damaged. One of these temples was also a museum of the history of Buddhism in Bangladesh.
The Buddhist have lost more than fifty houses and twelve temples have been seriously damaged. But the nation has lost more than what we can even conceive of. The attack on the Buddhists and their temples is not only an attack on the minority people, it was an attack against the state and the nation as a whole. This has damaged the image of Bangladesh as country which was known as a role model of inter-religious harmony. No language is enough to explain the tragedy of the affected people and no word is sufficient enough to condemn this heinous activity.
The free printed media and the electronic media of Bangladeshgave a massive coverage of the incident. The entire nation was stunned. All the leaders of different political parties including the Government, the members of the civil society, religious leaders and human rights organizations condemned the incident with the strongest possible language. The members of the IARF, Bangladesh Chapter also brought out a Protest Rally against this unfortunate incident. We demanded that the burnt houses be properly rebuilt, the affected people be given compensation and shelter, and all the temples be rebuilt immediately by the Govt.
Since 30th September there have been Protest Rallies throughout the country, because (1) 99% of people in Bangladesh believe in inter-religious harmony and peaceful co-existence; (2) This incident has damaged the image of Bangladesh as a country of inter-religious harmony; (3) The Buddhists, by nature, are peace-loving people and for hundreds of years Muslims and Buddhists have been living together in an ideal and peaceful manner.
The report of the Enquiry Commission formed by the Govt. is yet to be out. That is why we are not sure as to who are responsible for the unfortunate incident. We hope, within few days the report will be available. However, it is almost evident that a group of fanatics are responsible for this unfortunate incident. Until the report of the Enquiry Commission is out, we cannot be sure about the motive.
Buddhist religious leaders including some Buddhist Ministers of the present Govt. met the Prime Minister of Bangladesh yesterday (06.10.2012). She assured all concerned that the Govt. would take stern action against the culprits. She will visit the site of occurrence tomorrow (8th September). She was in USA during the incident, which is why she could not go their earlier.
Meanwhile, some culprits have already been arrested and two of them have confessed. On the basis of the national demand, the Officer in Charge of Police of Ramu Town has been arrested for his failure to control the situation, and he has been in police remand. It is quite encouraging to note that Buddhists and Muslims in Cox’s Bazar held a Harmony Rally. The entire nation expressed solidarity with the Buddhists in the country, and the demand of exemplary punishment of the culprits has become a national demand. It has become everybody’s slogan: “Bangladesh is a country of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, and we must live like brothers and sisters of the same parents.”
Let us all pray for the best and hope for the best. Side by side, we seek forgiveness from those who have become victims of fanaticism.
Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam
President, Bangladesh Chapter
Bangladesh Chapter launches young adult branch
23-25 September 2012
@Department of World Religions, Dhaka University, Bangladesh
A reception for the visit to Bangladesh by IARF-JLC member Rev. Takahiro Miwa (accompanied by Mrs. Yukari Miwa and IARF-SACC president Dr. Thomas Mathew) was organised by the head of the Bangladesh Chapter of IARF-SACC, Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam (of the Department of World Religions, Dhaka University, Bangladesh).
Also part of the visiting delegation was Anbumani Arumugam, International President of RFYN and Assistant Professor at Annamalai University in Chennai.
- Her event report: Report on Bangladesh Chapter visit by SACC/Rev.Miwa
- Her seminar contribution: Paper given to Dhaka seminar by Anbumani Arumugam
- Photos of the occasion (link to Picasa)
Further reporting on this and related events by SACC president Dr. Thomas Mathew:
- Seminar on Human Rights & Religious Freedom in South Asia – Dhaka, September 2012 (PDF, 4 pages)
- “Human Rights & Religious Freedom in Bangladesh”, by Jannatul Maoa (PDF, 5 pages)
- Words by Ms. Amin Tahsina Ferdous, Vice President RFYN Bangladesh (PDF, 2 pages)
- Organising committee of RFYN-Bangladesh (PDF, 1 page name list)