German President meets Religious Leaders in Bangladesh

November 29, 2011: Visiting German President Christian Wulff met religious leaders and representatives on Monday in the capital of Bangladesh.
He had a private meeting followed by dinner with Archbishop and executive director Benedict Alo D’Rozario, three Muslim clerics and a representative each of the Hindu and Buddhist communities.
Wulff, 52, a Catholic, told them that “he wanted to learn about inter-religious relationships in the country. As there are people of various faiths in Germany, this sharing and experience will help him boost inter-faith relations.” e said.
“Religious harmony here is satisfactory. Apart from some isolated incidents people of all faiths live here peacefully and harmoniously. All religious festivals turn into universal festivals here,” Archbishop D’Rozario said.
The other leaders agreed and said that Bangladesh is overall a country of religious harmony. They said isolated incidents such as attacks on minorities are politically-motivated and not motivated by religious intolerance.
Wulff said he was glad to hear about inter-faith relationships in the country. “There are about four million non-Christians in my country. I’ve heard and now learned about religious harmony in Bangladesh. It was a really useful experience.”
Wulff, the first Catholic president of Germany in 40 years, arrived with an 84-member delegation yesterday for a three-day official visit to discuss and enhance trade between two countries. He will then fly on to Indonesia.