(July 29, 2011) The government is starting to follow the Catholic Church’s example
by pursuing inter-religious dialogue to counter extremism and foster peace and solidarity
among religious communities. In what is the government’s first attempt at promoting
inter-religious dialogue, the Islamic Foundation organized a special discussion among
91 religious leaders and intellectuals in Dinajpur, in the northwest of the country
recently. The event, sponsored by the ministry of religious affairs was held at the
Imam training institute in the town. “Spiritual and religious practices are activities
that acknowledge human dignity. This concept has to be spread around the country to
ensure a peaceful existence for majority and minority religious communities. We should
uphold our own religion and respect the faith and religious lives of others,” Mamun
Mian, a Muslim cleric, told the gathering. Society in the twenty-first-century has
no place for extremism and dialogue is the key to ensuring peace and harmony. Dr.
Balram Roy, a Hindu and a university professor, said government sponsorship of the
gathering was a step in the right direction and praised Catholic efforts in trying
to forge inter-religious peace. Father George Anthony Gomes, from the Dinajpur diocesan
Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism, said he was really happy to
see Church dialogue efforts being lauded and imitated. “I recall the day three years
ago when a number of people from various faiths responded to our call for dialogue.
This is how we can sustain brotherhood and harmony,” he added.