Sunday | 12 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Sunday | 12 January 2025 | Epaper

Communal harmony is critical to shield democracy and progress of Bangladesh

Published : Tuesday, 3 December, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 664
MIR MOSHARREF HOSSAIN PAKBIR
In a world characterized by diversity and pluralism, the principles of communal harmony, secularism, and religious security are not just idealistic aspirations; they are fundamental cornerstones of a thriving democracy. For Bangladesh, a nation with a rich tapestry of cultures and religions, upholding these values is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity to bolster its position on the global stage. Secularism prevailed in this region for hundreds of years and Bangladesh has ensured secularism since its inception even by integrating this concept in constitution, we have seen some attacks on secularism on multiple occasions by evil forces to diminish the honor of Bangladesh. Hence, in today's Bangladesh also where changes are constantly taking place, we must keep aware and protect this fundamental right of every Bangladeshis irrespective of their religion.

Bangladesh, being a Muslim-majority nation, holds secularism as its core principles while the freedom of religion is guaranteed by its constitution. Though Islam was included in the constitution as the state religion in 1980s secular principle of the 1972 constitution was reestablished later in 2010. It states that, other religions can be practiced in harmony and gives equal rights to all citizens irrespective of their religion. The major religion in Bangladesh is Islam (90%), but a significant percentage of the population belongs to Hinduism (9%). Other religious groups include the Buddhists, Christians and Animists as well as different ethnic groups.

Bangladesh's character as a pluralistic and diverse nation is fundamentally based on secularism, ensuring that people of all religious origins have equal rights and opportunities. The legal system of the country, which forbids discrimination based on religion, reflects this dedication to secularism. Bangladesh's cultural legacy, which celebrates and preserves traditions and rituals from many religious and ethnic groupings, is another example of the country's secular attitude. The country's thriving literary, musical, and artistic scenes showcase its diverse cultural fabric, bridging gaps in religion and ethnicity to bring people together via a common history.

In Bangladesh, a nation with a heterogeneous religious and ethnic population, communal harmony is highly valued. The country has worked to promote peaceful coexistence between its minority religious populations-Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists-and its majority Muslim people, despite occasional difficulties. Regretfully, a small number of malicious groups constantly attempt to destroy this unity among the community. Even after the fall of the previous government on August 5, the interim government along with the armed forces and Islamic leaders worked exemplary and successfully to ensure a harmonious Durga Puja. But somehow that peaceful and harmonious trait could not be sustained unfortunately due to political and religious agenda. Not only communal harmony is being harmed for the 9% Hindu populace but also the Muslims are getting divided in different groups and risks of jeopardizing communal harmony is at worst.

The condition of minorities all over the world has demonstrated a pattern of unfairness and uncertainty. Bangladesh also seems to be of no exception. This situation is due to only a few incidents which are highly focused and creates panic among the minority groups. Majorly, the religious minorities live a very peaceful life in Bangladesh and most of the Muslim people do not treat them with inequality. The recent arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu in Bangladesh has sparked widespread protests and violent clashes, raising concerns about the state of secularism in the country. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has expressed solidarity with Das, despite distancing itself from his actions. This incident has led to calls for banning ISKCON, which the Bangladesh High Court has rejected days after a lawyer was killed in a clash between security personnel and supporters of a Hindu leader, previously linked to the religious group. 

The situation has strained Bangladesh-India relations, with India expressing concern over the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh and urging the Bangladeshi government to ensure their safety. Notably, the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu was not due to religious reasons rather than due to treason against the country to create political unrest and draw international pressures on Bangladesh. But the ongoing unrest and the government's response to it have highlighted the challenges of maintaining secularism and protecting minority rights in Bangladesh, impacting its relationship with neighboring India and daunting the image of Bangladesh in front of the democratic world.

At its core, democracy thrives on the principles of equality, justice, and freedom. Communal harmony fosters a society where individuals from different religious backgrounds can interact without fear or prejudice. Secularism, which advocates for the separation of religion from state affairs, ensures that government policies and decisions are made impartially, without favoring any particular religion. Religious security, on the other hand, guarantees that individuals can practice their faith freely, without facing discrimination or violence. Together, these principles create an environment where democracy can flourish.

A society characterized by communal harmony is more likely to experience social cohesion and stability. When people of different faiths coexist peacefully, it fosters mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. In contrast, communal strife and religious intolerance can lead to social fragmentation, unrest, and violence, undermining the very foundations of democracy and also daunting the development of Bangladesh. Economic development is closely linked to social stability and harmony. When religious communities coexist peacefully, it creates a conducive environment for business, investment, and innovation. By ensuring religious security and secularism, a nation can attract both domestic and foreign investments, driving economic growth and development.

In an increasingly interconnected world, a nation's reputation on the global stage is influenced by its commitment to human rights and democratic values. By upholding communal harmony, secularism, and religious security, Bangladesh can enhance its image as a progressive and inclusive democracy. Religious security entails safeguarding individuals' rights to practice, profess, and propagate their faith without fear of persecution or discrimination. It is a fundamental human right recognized by international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18). Bangladesh should strengthen its legal frameworks to protect religious freedom and ensure equal rights for all citizens.

Education is a powerful tool for promoting tolerance and understanding. The government should implement curricula that emphasize the importance of diversity, secularism, and mutual respect. Additionally, educational institutions should organize interfaith dialogues and cultural exchange programs to promote mutual understanding. The government, civil society organizations, and religious leaders should actively promote and facilitate interfaith dialogues to address misconceptions, resolve conflicts, and build mutual trust.

The government should ensure that all religious communities are fairly represented in decision-making processes and public institutions. The government should take proactive measures to protect all places of worships from vandalism, desecration, and violence. The government should support and collaborate with civil organizations to address issues related to religious intolerance and discrimination. The government and civil society organizations should use media and technology platforms to raise awareness about the importance of religious freedom and secularism. This includes running public awareness campaigns, producing educational content, and using social media to spread positive messages as well as countering misinformation and hate speech online.

Leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping societal attitudes and behaviors. Political, religious, and community leaders should set a positive example by promoting tolerance, inclusivity, and respect for all religions. Leaders should condemn acts of religious intolerance and violence and work towards fostering a culture of peace and harmony. With comprehensive steps, the government can foil any conspiracy to hurt secularism in Bangladesh as it is expected that evil forces and global conspirators will try to hurt the communal harmony in our country to create turbulence as well as to serve their own interests.

The interim government needs to remain highly alert on the religious conspiracies as these can harm our relationship with our critical development partners like India and USA. As we are going through critical reforms with the new administration in chair as well as the upcoming national elections, it is important that we remain on the track of economic progress, which calls for higher commitment from our development partners.

Ensuring communal harmony, secularism, and religious security is essential for the health and vitality of a democracy. The interim government as well as all political parties should remain careful about the conspiracies to hurt secularism in Bangladesh, which will destroy our relations and partnerships with our neighbors and the democratic world. They must politically commit to protect secularism and this commitment to communal harmony, secularism and religious security will not only strengthen the nation internally but also elevate its position on the global stage as a beacon of tolerance and democracy. Historically, people from all religions had lived peacefully together with utmost harmony and friendship in Bangladesh and we need that to continue in the future also.

The writer is Chief Editor at Mohammadi News Agency (MNA) and Editor at Kishore Bangla



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