A delegation from the Church of England has proposed forming a parliamentary caucus on freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh to promote religious tolerance, mutual respect and harmony among different communities.
The proposal was made during a meeting between Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal and Dr Charles Reed, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Church of England, at the Deputy Speaker’s office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday.
During the meeting, Dr Reed and representatives of the British High Commission praised the government’s support and security arrangements during the recent Durga Puja celebrations, saying the peaceful and festive atmosphere had been appreciated across different sections of society.
They said ensuring that people of all faiths could freely observe their religious festivals was an important feature of a democratic government.
The delegation expressed interest in working with parliamentarians to promote freedom of religion or belief, mutual respect, tolerance and awareness, and strengthen harmony among different religious communities.
They discussed with the Deputy Speaker the possibility of forming a parliamentary caucus on freedom of religion or belief in the Bangladesh Parliament.
Kayser Kamal said Bangladesh was a country of communal harmony where people of all faiths celebrated their religious festivals in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere.
“There is no division between minorities and majorities for us. The Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to practise their religion and equal rights. People of all religions and beliefs are equal citizens of this country,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker said parliamentarians had an important role to play in upholding religious harmony, mutual respect and tolerance.
He described the proposed parliamentary caucus as a constructive initiative that could facilitate issue-based discussions, experience-sharing among MPs and policy formulation.
Such an initiative could further strengthen mutual respect and religious harmony among people and contribute to building a tolerant society, he said.
Kayser Kamal also said the views and voices of all lawmakers were being given importance in the current parliament, describing it as an important practice that had not been adequately observed in the past.
Reflecting different opinions and perspectives in parliament would enrich democratic practices, he said.
“We want to build a Bangladesh where every person can live in peace, freely hold and practise their religious beliefs and ideologies, and enjoy equal protection of their rights and dignity,” he added.
Both sides expressed hope for stronger parliamentary cooperation on freedom of religion or belief, human rights, mutual respect, tolerance and social harmony.
The meeting also discussed expanding cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in parliamentary affairs, good governance and social development.
British High Commission Governance Adviser Shahnaz Karim and Social Development Adviser Tahera Jabin, FORB Project National Coordinator Ruhi Naz and Senior Programme Manager Shashanka Baran Roy were present, along with officials of the Parliament Secretariat