Muslim mayor in Bangladesh wants Christian schools in his city
(June 26, 2013) In Bangladesh, the Muslim mayor of Rajshahi said he wants Christian
schools in his city. The official request was made on Monday by Mossaddeque Hossain
Bulbul, the newly elected mayor of the city to Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi
diocese. He said “Catholics play an exemplary role in education; they have well
known institutions around the country and are great centers for the formation of students."
Last week, the Diocese of Rajshahi organized a welcome ceremony in honour of the
new mayor, in the presence of young Christians and government personalities. On that
occasion, the bishop spoke of the situation in which Christians live in the area to
Bulbul. He said although in Bangladesh there are 302 Catholic elementary schools,
four Catholic universities and 50 Catholic high schools, in the Rajshahi there is
not even one. Given this lack, Bulbul said: "With humility I ask the bishop to build
in my town a school and a college that will be run by Catholics." Mossaddeque
Hossain Bulbul was the candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party –BNP in municipal
elections that took place on 16 June. Against all expectations, the BNP - nationalist
opposition party in the government won in all the cities that voted.