| Promotion of Interfaith Cooperation |
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Masjid Council played leading role in forming Council for Interfaith Harmony, Bangladesh (CIH, BD) - an interfaith organization encompassing Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism, established to promoting humane and moral values in the society. CIH,BD organizes national level advocacy and campaign programs involving leaders of four major faiths in the country. Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, MACCA Chairman is the founder Secretary General of CIH,BD.
MACCA had the opportunity to act as the national secretariat of Council for Interfaith Harmony, Bangladesh (CIH, BD). On behalf of CIH,BD MACCA facilitated the organization of an unprecedented national conference in February 2006 that was graced by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. About 1500 religious followers and leaders of major faiths such as Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, in Bangladesh attended the conference. |
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| Dealing With Extremism In Bangladesh |
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Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country with a longstanding reputation for tolerance and communal harmony. However, this reputation is sometimes undermined by reports of extremism, terrorism and distorted interpretations in the name of Islam. Such misleading interpretations not only give rise to terrorism, but it also puts the image of Islam as a peaceful and tolerant religion under question. While state and political leaders need to take action against terrorism, faith leaders are finding it their responsibility to address a longer-term solution to terrorism by promoting correct interpretation of Islam as a peaceful and tolerant religion and by building a national consensus among Islamic scholars about Islam’s position on extremism and terrorism.
A rough estimate suggests that there are about 500,000 mosques in Bangladesh with about 500,000 Imams. These leaders can play significant roles both locally and nationally to address terrorism, peace, and human security. By involving religious leaders, Masjid Council successfully launched a nation-wide anti terrorist campaign right after the sensational 63-district bombing in August 2005. As part of that campaign MACCA printed and distributed 10,00,000 posters; organized delivery of 50,000 speeches at key mosques and utilized national TV (BTV) to broadcast speech against terrorism by prominent faith leaders.
As part of its long term campaign and advocacy program, MACCA has planned to further build on the nation-wide anti-terrorism campaign to draw a national consensus among Muslim scholars and religious leaders against terrorism.
Masjid Council chairman provided support, throughout 2009, to Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), by actively taking part in series of campaigning sessions on antiterrorism. |
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