PM Hasina pays tribute to distinguished monastic personality Jinananda

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has paid tribute to the memory of the Bangladesh Sangharaj Bhikkhu Mahasabha vice president and celebrated monastic personality venerable Jinananda Mahathero.

The prime minister paid homage in a message issued on Wednesday on the occasion of the national cremation ceremony of the chief abbot of the Mahabodhi Buddha Bihar in Lohagara upazila of Chittagong to be held on Thursday.

“Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. The people of the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities are living in the country with peace and harmony,” the prime minister said in this regard.

“We are relentlessly working to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ dreamt by the best Bangali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with upholding the thousand-year-old cultural heritages and spirit of the great Liberation War,” the prime minister further added.

Noting that the ongoing development of Bangladesh is now visible to the world, she said the followers of Buddhism in the country have been participating in all kinds of activities including socio-economic development.

The Buddhists and monks had outstanding contributions in liberating Bangladesh from Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that thousand-year Buddhist history, heritage and culture are the testimonies to the people and soil of this country.

People of all faiths from Bangladesh have been living for time immemorial, setting a wonderful example of friendship and amity, Sheikh Hasina said and added that the Buddhist monks play a vital role in upholding the bond of friendship and harmony among the people.

Venerable Jinananda Mahathero worked for the cause of religion and welfare of humanity throughout his life being imbued with the non-communal spirit, she said, adding that Jinananda founded a number of educational and welfare-oriented institutions as well. 

Jinananda advised through his extensive religious courses for establishing unity, solidarity, friendship and peace for both the societies of monks and people home and abroad, the prime minister said.

People will be able to learn about his contribution to the nation through the souvenir “Jinananda Dyuti” to be published on the cremation of venerable Jinananda Mahathero, Sheikh Hasina informed, expressing her gratitude: “I welcome this wonderful initiative [publication of the souvenir].”

She lastly wished for the success of the national cremation ceremony of the renowned Buddhist monk.