Inter-religious talks to solve conflicts stressed
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Vatican's Department), speaks at a “Conference on Inter-religious Dialogue and Harmony” at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR
Bangladesh has acquired a great patrimony in the area of inter-religious relations which can be placed at the service of the world, said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue at a conference in the city yesterday. The special envoy of the Pope Benedict XVI, who is on a five-day visit to Bangladesh also said that Bangladesh must be considered as an example of how people of different religions live, cooperate and co-exist peacefully. “All the information I received, it appears to me that religion here is not used as an excuse for hatred, discrimination violence or conflict,” said Cardinal Tauran. Cardinal Tauran is the only high official visiting Bangladesh from the Vatican since 1986 when the then Pope John Paul the Second came here on a goodwill mission. Representatives of religious groups, members of the diplomatic community, church leaders from across the country joined the Inter-religious dialogue at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The French born Cardinal Tauran said the very topic of inter-religious dialogue could be suspect to some minds since in some parts of the world religion is branded and accused as the source and cause of intolerance and conflict. The guests of honour of the conference Md Shajahan Miah, state minister for religious affairs and Promode Mankin, state minister for cultural affairs also emphasised the need of inter-religious dialogues to solve conflicts and overcome misunderstandings. Shajahan Miah said that religion has always been a primary force for social and human development. Dialogue between the people with different faiths could surely resolve crisis, he said. Promode Mankin, who also led a chore with the audience, said, "Our culture teaches us to respect all other religions. There are some isolated incidents of religious conflict, but the policy of the government and its constitution is clear about religious harmony". Archbishop Joseph Marino, Vetican's Ambassador to Bangladesh, said that over the years he talked to the people of all walks of life and discovered that in Bangladesh people of all faiths genuinely live in harmony. Muhammad Zamir, chief information commissioner, said that lack of dialogue among religious groups has encouraged wrong concepts in the minds of religious communities across Europe and also in the east. Dialogues could greatly remove misunderstanding, he said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments