Dhaka peace academy calls for interfaith dialogue, cooperation

HWPL recently convened the Dhaka Religious Peace Academy at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (World Literature Centre) in Dhaka to reinforce interfaith harmony, mutual understanding, and a culture of peace.

The event was co-hosted by Rissho Kosei Kai Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Youth Educational Foundation, the Jodo Dohhhota Unnoyon Institute, and the Atish Dipankar Memorial Complex.

Approximately 67 participants attended, including religious leaders, social leaders, youth leaders, and members of civil society.

Bangladesh is a multi-religious society where Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian communities live alongside the Muslim majority. Speakers emphasised that religious diversity is a vital social asset, warning that prejudice and misunderstanding can foster conflict and exclusion without sustained dialogue and trust-building.

The Dhaka Religious Peace Academy serves as an international platform to promote respect for religious and cultural diversity and to foster a sustainable culture of peace through dialogue and cooperation.

The event aimed to share HWPL's peace initiatives, highlight Mindanao in the Philippines as a case study for overcoming religious conflict and achieving harmony, and explore how these lessons might be applied in Bangladesh.

The programme began with an overview of HWPL's activities and those of the Religious Affairs Department of Global Branch 03, followed by guidance on HWPL membership registration and a joint signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding involving eight organisations.

Religious leaders, social leaders, and other participants engaged in discussions across four roundtables.

The discussions addressed religious teachings for human harmony, the role of religion in resolving contemporary social conflicts, avenues for interfaith cooperation towards a peaceful society, and approaches to coexistence education for future generations.

Following the roundtable discussions, each group's chair presented their findings. The event concluded with a photo session highlighting the key outcomes from each group.

Attendees included Ashoke Barua, Chairman of Rissho Kosei Kai Bangladesh; Dr Muhammad Jalal Uddin, Vice Principal of Central Creative College; Muhammad Qamrul Islam Jewel, Assistant Professor in the Department of Islamic Studies at Jagannath University; Mobarak Hossain, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Youth Education Foundation; and Venerable Saful Barua, Buddhist monk of the International Buddhist Monastery.

Dr Muhammad Jalal Uddin said the event, founded on cooperation between Korea and Bangladesh, was a meaningful occasion for sharing the values of religious harmony, mutual respect, friendship, and love.

He diversified the voluntary participation and involvement of people from diverse backgrounds, including the event's key leaders and youth leaders, thereby deepening the event's significance.

He added that the gathering demonstrated peace is not a distant ideal but a value that can be realised, expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of efforts to plant the seeds of peace for future generations.

A joint Memorandum of Understanding was signed between HWPL and eight organisations, while 46 new HWPL memberships were registered during the event.

Building on the network of religious and social leaders formed at the event, HWPL plans to continue follow-up activities, independently and in collaboration with participating organisations.

Planned activities include tree-planting during the rainy season, interfaith dialogues, roundtable meetings, peace awareness programmes for university students and youth, and peace education for middle and secondary school students.