Bangladesh gets first Catholic minister

(Aug.12,2009): Bangladesh Catholics have welcomed the appointment of Advocate Promod Mankin as the country’s first Catholic government minister, hoping he will highlight minority and tribal concerns. 71-year-old Advocate Mankin was appointed state minister for cultural affairs on July 31. He will be responsible for the country’s cultural development and its sustainability. Mankin comes from the tribal Garo community in Mymensingh diocese and is also a member of the government’s Ministry of Religion. “The expectations of Christians are enormous. I am fully aware of their concerns, as a result of my three terms in government and as member of parliament,” Mankin told UCA News. “People have to understand that I am now a state minister and have to look after the cultural affairs of the whole nation and protect the interests of the national culture. But since I am from the Christian community, I will not forget my roots,” he assured.
Since 2003, Mankin has also been chairman of the Bangladesh Christian Association (BCA), a major inter-denominational Christian forum. He said he will push for a proposal he made to parliament and the permanent committee of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to declare Christmas and Easter public holidays. Another of his priorities, said Mankin, is to consider the interests of all the 45 minority ethnic groups in Bangladesh.
The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Bangladesh secretary, Fr Subrato Boniface Gomes welcomed Mankin’s appointment saying: “We are proud to have him as the state minister. He can add our voice to the government’s policy-making process.”