Co-existence of diversified religious people and youth engagement is needed for achieving sustainable development goals and making a peaceful world, agreed by the religious leaders at a dialogue session on the International Peace Day 2023.
To commemorate the International Day of Peace, leaders of Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian religions from Cox’s Bazar district participated in an initiative called “Interreligious Dialogue with Coffee” on the 23rd of September.
KAICIID Fellow Alumna and Co-Founder of Initiatives for Bangladesh, Ms. Farah Naj Jahan; Co-Founder of Youth Nexus, Md. Palash Mahmud; and Alumni of the Goldin Institute, Ananda Kumar Biswas, hosted this program.
The program aims to build a safe, violence-free, and harmonious society where social media/ cyberspace combat fake news and misinformation, enhance the young generation’s knowledge of diversity, tolerance, and acceptance, and inspire them to work on peacebuilding and conflict management. Two hours of discussion included explanations of the dialogue for the youth, intercultural cooperation, growing conflict in Bangladesh, and interreligious educational programs. 
Dr. Muhammad Nurul Absar, honorable principal (acting) of Cox’s Bazar Model Women’s Kamil Madrasha and President of Bangladesh Muslim, Hindu, Buddha, and Christian Sompriti Parishad, was presented here. He said, “Islam prescribes working for peace. So, our youth should lead for peace and respect people of other religions.”
“The same sun and moon that shine on other religious people also shine on us. Thus, we all wish to collaborate to create a peaceful Bangladesh”- expressed by the Buddhist and Hindu religious leaders, venerable Jyotisen Mohathero, Administrator of Bonashram Bouddha Bihar, and Sudhir Banchan Chowdhury, Devotee, Ramu Kali Mandir.
“Engaging family and mother in promoting peace” which is included in Holy Bible, Mr. Sushanta Nath, a priest from the Baithania Baptist Church, expressed his wish to use the dedicated service of all religions to create a peaceful and harmonious Bangladesh.
These priceless insights enabled us to work more sanely for Bangladesh’s future.
