A regional dialogue on "Interfaith Harmony in Jessore: Reality and Actions" held.

Daily Bijoy News, Keshabpur, Jessore Correspondent:

A regional dialogue titled "Interfaith Harmony in Jessore: Reality and Actions" has been held. The dialogue, themed "Let's build a Bangladesh of peace and harmony, not conflict," was organized under the Multi-Stakeholder Initiative for Peace and Stability (MIPS) project of The Hunger Project Bangladesh, with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The event took place on Thursday (11th December) afternoon at the RRF Training and Resource Centre. It was presided over by Professor Md. Shafiqul Islam, the PAN Coordinator for the Jessore region. The chief guest was Jessore District Administrator and District Magistrate Mohammad Ashek Hasan. The special guest was Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md. Asif Uddin.

Also present were Jessore District Imam Association President Md. Zakir Hossain, prominent Islamic thinker Md. Nazmul Huda, and The Hunger Project's Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Knowledge Management Officer Md. Sayedul Islam. Overall management was handled by Field Coordinator Md. Ashraful Zaman, Account Officer Adhish Das, and Kushtia YPGJ Coordinator Sadik Hasan Rahid. The event began auspiciously with the national anthem, recitations from the Holy Quran, the Holy Gita, and the Holy Bible. The session was conducted by Area Coordinator S.M. Raju Jabed. The welcome address was delivered by Professor Md. Shafiqul Islam, the PAN Coordinator for the Jessore region. The summary of the dialogue, action plan determination, and discussion on the declaration were presented by Md. Khorshed Alam, the Regional Coordinator for Jessore region of The Hunger Project Bangladesh.

Speakers at the dialogue said that people of various religions, races, tribes, and communities live in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a country of religious and ethnic harmony. Religion can never create division. However, misguided people use religion to create division in society, which we must be cautious about. We must maintain our religious harmony. To that end, religious leaders of all faiths must play a special role. We must seek true information and not listen to rumors. We must remain vigilant so that no one spreads rumors or incitement. Forgetting differences between people, we must continue working to build a non-communal Bangladesh of peace and harmony, and establish a humane and justice-based social system where people of every religion and culture will be safe. The dialogue participants made various plans to maintain religious peace and harmony and pledged to implement them. Finally, all present participants unanimously signed a declaration containing 11 points to protect interfaith harmony. The dialogue was attended by PFG and YPGJ members from nine upazilas of four districts in the Jessore region—Bagharpara, Keshabpur, Abhaynagar, Manirampur, Kushtia Sadar, Jhenaidah Sadar, Gangni, Meherpur, and Mujibnagar—as well as members of Youth Ending Hunger, religious leaders from various faiths, journalists, representatives of civil society, and staff of The Hunger Project.

Daily Bijoy News/ Poresh Debnath