Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday made five proposals to develop a Buddhist circuit between Bangladesh and India for further "enhancing friendship and understanding.”
"The teachings of Lord Buddha could be a good basis for a peaceful society and peaceful region," he said while speaking at a seminar styled “Buddhism and Buddhist Circuit Development between Bangladesh and India” at the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery, Dhaka.
"Buddhist culture link between Bangladesh and India may act as a catalyst for further enhancing friendship and understanding, particularly in the area of people-to-people contact. As pilgrims travel between our nations, they forge connections and create lifelong memories that transcend borders. These interactions contribute to the promotion of secularism by fostering respect and appreciation for diverse beliefs and traditions," he said.
In this regard, the five specific proposals of the foreign minister are:
1. We need to use Buddhism and its heritage as a tool for “bonding and friendship” among the countries. To this effect, the conservation, development and promotion of these heritages remain crucial. This is crucial not only for spiritual followers but also for those interested in exploring the rich history and cultural diversity of the South Asian region.
2. While we may continue to work bilaterally, we also need to follow a regional-level approach within South Asia and expand it to Southeast Asia to unleash the potential of the region’s Buddhist heritage for inclusive development.
3. We need to strengthen activities within regional organizations like Saarc and Bimstec to explore ways and means to conserve and promote the cultural diversity in the region, especially promoting a Buddhist circuit. Establishing a good Buddhist circuit can play a catalytic role in this regard.
4. We need to foster a united effort in order to ensure sustainable tourism development to complement the overall sustainable development of the region.
5. Organize regular regional forums and conferences on cultural heritage and tourism development in South Asia to share experiences, best practices and challenges related to preserving and promoting Buddhist heritage. Think tanks and various religious organizations can play their due role.
Why Buddhism?
Buddhism is the world’s fourth largest religion with over 520 million followers, or over 7% of the global population. Buddhism holds a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and his philosophies.
There are about 1 million Buddhists living in Bangladesh. They form about 0.6% of the total population of Bangladesh. Over 65% of the Buddhist population is concentrated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region.
The foreign minister said Buddhism has a deep-rooted heritage and a significant cultural circuit in the South Asian region. South Asia is recognized as the heartland of Buddhism.
"India and Bangladesh have a history of friendly relations, deeply rooted in shared culture and heritage. Buddhism, being an integral part of both our cultures, opens up avenues for mutual engagement. I strongly believe that Buddhist circuit development between the Buddhists of Bangladesh and India may deepen the people-to-people contact and bond between the two countries," he said.
"Bangladesh is the birthplace of great Buddhist scholar Atish Dipankar who went to Tibet and propagated Buddhism there for which the people of Tibet still pay respect to him. Bangladesh, once known as the ancient kingdom of Pundravardhana, hosts a number of Buddhist archaeological sites and monuments.
"From the ancient monastic establishments in Mahasthangarh to the revered Mahabodhi Temple in Paharpur, these sacred sites stand as a testament to the profound impact Buddhism had on this region. As we take pride in our cultural diversity, the recognition of this Buddhist heritage becomes an integral part of our identity," he said.
"India, on the other hand, is also renowned for its rich Buddhist heritage, which dates back more than two millennia. Buddhism originated in India over two and a half millennia ago, when Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. Since then, the teachings of Buddhism have spread across the region and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. The birthplace of Buddhism, India hosts a lot of sacred sites and monuments that form the revered Buddhist circuit," the foreign minister said.
Peaceful coexistence
Dr Momen said Buddha was a torchbearer of peace and humanity. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his historic UNGA speech in 1974 underscored the importance of peace for the survival of mankind.
In his pursuit of world peace and human rights, Bangabandhu was awarded the Joliot-Curie Medal of Peace on May 23, 1973, he said.
"Bangabandhu always believed that peace is imperative for development. Following Bangabandhu’s philosophy, Bangladesh became an ardent advocate for world peace. His daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also working relentlessly for peace and prosperity for all. She promoted a UN resolution titled Culture of Peace. It believes that all violence, terrorism and war emanates from a mindset of intolerance, a mindset of disrespect towards others," he said.
"Therefore, if we can inculcate a mindset of respect, a mindset of tolerance towards others irrespective of religion, ethnicity, colour and race, we can hope to have sustainable peace across nations. Let us work together to achieve such a goal. In fact, to ensure prosperity in the region, we need the peaceful coexistence of all nations and all countries. Buddhist circuit development can play a vital role in this regard," he said.
"It is our constitutional commitment to ensure secularism as it is mentioned in the preamble as one of the fundamental principles of Bangladesh."