Interfaith harmony, coexistence needed to achieve SDG: Speakers

Speakers at a roundtable meeting stressed on the role of interfaith harmony, diversity, peaceful coexistence and co-operation in achieving sustainable development goals.

Gen Lab's Policy Café was held on Friday as part of Bangladesh Peace and Harmony Week 2019, said a press release.

The policy café roundtable was organized by Gen Lab, a social innovation and skills development organization in the Dhaka, Daily Star Centre with the participation of eminent social innovators, media personalities, young leaders, academicians and religious leaders and parliamentarian on the panel.

It was a panel attended by representatives of the younger generation with experts who have been working for a long time on interfaith harmony and inclusive society. 

Twenty experts and speakers from different disciplines spoke at the roundtable.

Rosalee Laplante, Political Counselor of the Canadian High Commission, Audrey Hsiehi, Political Officer of US Embassy in Dhaka, Syed Najibul Bashar Maizvandari MP from Chottogram 2 constituency who is also the chairperson of Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Tayab Bashar from Save & Serve Foundation, Rana Dasgupta – General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Kajal Debnath - Presidium Member at Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Nirmol Rozario -President of the Bangladesh Christian Association were present. 

Besides, Professor Kazi Nurul Islam – Founding Chair of  Dhaka University World Religion and Culture Department, Priyanka Bose Kanta – Lecturer of Law at University of Dhaka, Assistant Professor Shehreen Ataur Khanat of Jagannath University, Northern University Registrar - Kazi Shahadat Kabir, Fellow of the US State Department and Founder of iCan Foundation – Ms. Ayreen Khan, Tanbir Siddiqui -President of Change Makers, UN Habitat (Asia Pacific) Advisor & SERAC President- SM Shaikat, Faisal Bin Majid and Siddharth Goswami from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) , Nimai Kumar Das – Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Ansar & VDP, Shammy Wadud – President, UNYSAB, JCI Dhaka North President Imran Kadir, Social Researcher -Zahid Hossain Khan  discussed the issue. 

Ratul Dev – Executive Director of Gen Lab moderated the session.  

Tariqat Federation Chairman and Chittagong 2 constituency parliamentarian Syed Najibul Bashar Maizvandari MP said, "To develop interfaith harmony, it is important to increase our open dialogue. The way the younger generation is dealing with such issues as developing harmony in our society should be encouraged more. It is important to strengthen our curriculum and social organizations.” 

 “There are so much to learn from Bangladesh regarding harmony and social inclusivity. We want to know about deeper social relations from here and would love to share Canadian values whenever deemed necessary,” said Rosalee Laplante, Political Counselor of the Canadian High Commission.

Rana Das Gupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council opined as saying, “The depth of our social values is very high. We have many problems, but we must work hard to maintain religious harmony by removing all our hostility. Human rights are more important in sustainable development, since the importance of humanity and empathy require more emphasize in regular practice.”

Audrey Hsiehi, Political Officer at the US Embassy in Dhaka, said: “Bangladesh is moving forward steadily. Youth is the major power of Bangladesh. They need to play a role in building more social diversity and acceptance to different faith and values.” 

During the panel, former US State Department Alumni spoke about their work experience as well as the development of international experiences and relationships. 

Sufi painter Ayreen Khan said, "In order to deepen people's faith, open forum and discussion needs to be enhanced in particular.”

“Our youth need to ask and learn more about diversified topics, they need to know about the faith of others, must be curious to know about social issues,” said Assistant Professor Shehreen Ataur Khan.

SM Shaikat of SERAC Bangladesh mentioned about importance of learning and unlearning as part of human development and our need to practice the both.

Imran Kadir from JCI North stressed on the importance of media to promote acceptance to diversity and coexistence and suggested to include such issues in textbook curriculum. 

Tanbir Siddiq from Change Makers talked about political correctness and accountability of lawmakers to achieve the harmony and peaceful coexistence; whereas Nimai Kumar Das from Bangladesh Ansar & VDP emphasized rule of law and its proper implementation among citizens. 

Ratul Dev of Gen Lab said, “We are moving forward with many development indicators. Harmony is the major force of development in Bangladesh. The policy cafe is to understand the social crisis that are facing today and to figure policies to make Bangladesh more dynamic for the next decade. In the coming days, when achieving sustainable development goals are key agenda, we need to move forward by connecting civil society to the government and the administration."

Edward M Kennedy Center (EMK Center) and Bangladesh Interreligious Forum for Peace & Harmony played role of strategic partner for the program.