The first global climate strike took place 3 years ago in 150 countries across the globe. It was about demanding justice by people who said NO to ALL forms of injustice. Climate issues is neither an environmental issue nor a political issue; it is a social or economic issue, either. It is a broad terminology, which gives us a chance to remind ourselves about our interrelatedness. By reflecting on how all of these seemingly separate issues are deeply connected and influence each other, we come to realize that we need to be in a dialogue with one another rather than trying to tackle issues individually in a separate and isolated manner.

Concerning with the worse situations, we urgently demand climate justice movements in every corner of our locations and observed the GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE 2022 in Patenga, Chattogram, Bangladesh with local climate vulnerable people and visitors in the beach area of Bay of Bangle to raise and add their voices. In the movement it demanded urgent Climate Justice for all and urged to save People and Planet from the man-made climate induced crises. A human chain with slogans ‘ People not profit, Planet over profit, settle the climate refugees, pay up for loss and damage and keep our planet a livable place for all living beings not destroying nonliving nature ‘ and many others.

It also highlighted the climate injured vulnerabilities of Bangladeshi people as it’s low-lying topography, high population density, poverty and exposure to various hazards, such as flooding, storms, rising heat waves, sea levels, water logging, river erosion, or communicable diseases caused the world’s seventh most climate vulnerable country. The important aspect of tackling climate change is addressing and minimizing loss and damage by reducing carbon emission, which is a growing problem of every country. The Climate Strike movement is organised by Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh with support from Interreligious Climate and Ecology (ICE) Network and ADPT Bangladesh Foundation.

This year the theme for the 2022 International Day of Peace is End Racism, Build Peace. A roundtable discussion on the theme and host peacemakers call on the day ‘Empower the Local Peace maker’s Efforts for Ending Racism and Racial Discrimination’ is held under chaired by Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh chairman professor Tushar Kanti Barua. Eminent professor Ranjit Kumar Dey and executive chairman RFP Bangladesh was the key note speaker, among others Chattogram Development Authority(CDA) board member and politician Jashim Uddin Shah, journalist Ali Ahmed Shahin, Hindu community leader advocate Tapan Kanti Das, Buddhist scholar professor Dr. Dipankar Srigyan Barua, Christian Rev. Asai Tripura, Jumma Refugee Welfare Association, general secretary Santoshita Chakma Bakul, Principal Rita Datta, Muslim spiritual leader Moulana Shaleh Sufian Forharabad, civil society actors Ms Fatema Akter, Ajit Kumar Aich, Trustee Ven Dr. Priyadharshi Mahathero, Anna Sampson, Dr. Sabuj Barua, Talukdar Abdul Halim, Interfaith peacemaker Sharif Nabab Hossain, ADPT Bangladesh Foundation chairman Dr. Dibakar Barua, member secretary Souman Chakraborty, youth representative Ananda Kumar Biswas, peace activist Hasan Md. Ripon, Mukta Chakraborty, cultural activist Pronove. Raj Barua participated in the dialogue. The dialogue is inaugurated by Advocate Tapan Kanti Das and started by recitation of the national anthem and interreligious prayers. The Peace Day event coordinator and general secretary, Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh presented the keynote paper and importance of Peace Day initiatives and Peacemakers congregation. Young peacemaker Ananda Kumar Biswas conducted a session on ‘Community Visioning Summit for Achieving Sustainable Peace’.

The speakers noted the importance of empowering the local Bangladeshi and all religious and traditional peace actors for ending racism and racial discrimination at all levels of their working areas and fields of interest and urged starting from each person, family, society to state level to achieve it. Moreover the highlighted important points of the discussion are integration of peace, social and economic justice, equity, inclusion, combat hatred, intolerance, division, mistrust, religious violent extremism and amplifying the voice of global citizenship in the existing educational curriculum, social policies and organizational mandates that would greatly facilitate an inclusive society and would bring sustainable peace at all levels in Bangladeshi society. The Peace Day dialogue ended with commitments to continue working together for common goods, defeating social inequalities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda to end poverty, protect the mother earth and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, leaving no one behind in the society.

Registration for Interfaith Climate Justice & Regeneration Training: Apr. 23 – Jun. 4, 2022 (google.com)

[৩১ডিসেম্বর,শুক্রবার,বিকাল ৪.০০-৬.০০ টা,ভেন্যু- এফ.রহমান হল,২য় তলা,চট্টগ্রাম

প্রেসক্লাব]

আমাদের প্রিয় বাংলাদেশ তার সুবর্ণ জয়ন্তী, স্বাধীনতা ও বিজয়ের ৫০ বছর উদযাপন করছে। এই ৫০ বছর জুড়ে বাংলাদেশের যাত্রা অনেক সহজ ছিল না। এর মাঝে দুর্ভিক্ষ, প্রাকৃতিক দূর্যোগ,সামাজিক বৈষম্য, সামাজিক, রাজনৈতিক দূর্বৃত্তায়ন এবং দুর্নীতির আমাদের চির-বর্তমান সমস্যা, এরি মাঝেও প্রচণ্ড সংগ্রামের মধ্য দিয়ে এদেশ এগিয়ে গেছে। কিন্তু জাতি হিসেবে আজ বিশ্বে এবং জনগণের হৃদয়ে বাংলাদেশের স্থানকে কেউ অস্বীকার করতে পারবে না। সম্ভাবনাময়, সুযোগে পূর্ণ একটি দেশ। কিছু জটিল সামাজিক সমস্যা সত্ত্বেও, বাংলাদেশ এখন আগের চেয়ে শক্তিশালী এবং দেশটি দ্রুত বর্ধনশীল উন্নয়নশীল দেশ হিসাবে ব্যাপকভাবে স্বীকৃত, এবং দ্রুত একটি উন্নত রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত হওয়ার দিকে এগিয়ে যাচ্ছে। আমাদের উল্লেখযোগ্য অর্জনগুলি প্রধানত জিডিপিতে ($৪০৯ বিলিয়ন/অধিক ৩৫ লক্ষ কোটি টাকা), মাথাপিছু আয় $২,৫৫৪ এর বেশি, আয়ু ৭৩ বছর, বৈদেশিক রিজার্ভ $৪৪ বিলিয়ন, দারিদ্র্যের হার (প্রি-কোভিড-19) ২0%, একইভাবে, শিক্ষার ক্ষেত্র, স্কুলগামী এবং সাক্ষরতার হার, লিঙ্গ উন্নয়নে নাটকীয় অগ্রগতি, বিশেষ করে নারীর ক্ষমতায়ন, জন্ম-মৃত্যু হার হ্রাস, কৃষি উৎপাদন, ১00টি অর্থনৈতিক অঞ্চল প্রতিষ্ঠাসহ বিবিধ কাঠামোগত উন্নয়ন বেশ দ্রুত গতিতে এগিয়ে চলেছে। যখন আমরা স্বাধীনতার সুবর্ণ জয়ন্তী উদযাপন করি, তখন আমরা  কৃতজ্ঞতায় স্বীকার করি শহীদ, নির্যাতিত বীর সন্তানদের আত্মত্যাগের ফল এবং আমরা তাদের জন্য কৃতজ্ঞ। অত্যাচারী পাকিস্তানি শাসন থেকে আমাদের মুক্ত করার জন্য বীর মুক্তিযোদ্ধা এবং সকল নারী-পুরুষের পাশাপাশি, আমরা জাতির পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের প্রতি আমাদের গভীর শ্রদ্ধা জানাই, স্বাধীন ও সার্বভৌম বাংলাদেশ প্রতিষ্ঠার নেতৃত্বের জন্য।  তার নেতৃত্বে পরিচালিত করার জন্য, তাঁর অতুলনীয় ভূমিকার জন্য। অতএব, এখনই উপযুক্ত সময়  সমালোচনামূলকভাবে পুনর্বিবেচনা করার জন্য যে স্বপ্ন নিয়ে আমরা বাংলাদেশ স্বাধীন করেছি, যে স্বপ্নের জন্য আমাদের মুক্তিযোদ্ধারা এত মহৎ জীবন বিলিয়ে দিয়েছিলেন, এবং একটি ন্যায়পরায়ণ সমাজ প্রতিষ্ঠার জন্য কাজ করে তাদের স্মৃতিকে সম্মান করার অঙ্গীকার পুনরুদ্ধার করা। স্বাধীনতা বাংলাদেশের সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ প্রাপ্তি, যুদ্ধ ও অনেক ত্যাগের মাধ্যমে আমরা এ স্বাধীনতা পেয়েছি। আমাদের সংবিধানের চারটি মৌলিক নীতিকে আলিঙ্গন করে আমরা এগিয়ে যাচ্ছি। তা হল ১) জাতীয়তাবাদ ২) সমাজতন্ত্র ৩) গণতন্ত্র এবং ৪) ধর্মনিরপেক্ষতা। সংবিধান একটি সমাজতান্ত্রিক সমাজ গঠনের নিশ্চয়তা দেয়- যেখানে আইনের শাসন, মৌলিক মানবাধিকার এবং স্বাধীনতা, সাম্য ও ন্যায়বিচার, রাজনৈতিক, অর্থনৈতিক ও সামাজিক সব নাগরিকের জন্য সুরক্ষিত থাকে।

কাঙ্ক্ষিত লক্ষ্যে আমরা অনেক কিছু অর্জন করেছি কিন্তু সামাজিক ও অর্থনৈতিক ক্ষেত্রে এখনো অনেক কিছুই অর্জিত হয়নি। যেমন সকল নাগরিকের জন্য সামাজিক ও অর্থনৈতিক নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করা, রাষ্ট্রের সকল অঙ্গে গণতান্ত্রিক চর্চা, বৈষম্যহীন সমাজ ও অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক বাংলাদেশ গড়ে তোলা, রাষ্ট্রীয় সম্পত্তির অপচয় রোধ ও দুর্নীতি হ্রাস, উগ্রবাদ ও সাম্প্রদায়িকতা মোকাবেলা, সামাজিক পরিবর্তনে যুব ও নারীদের সম্পৃক্ততা, শান্তি ও নিরাপত্তা, অসাম্প্রদায়িক ও সম্প্রীতিপূর্ণ বাংলাদেশ, ধর্মীয় বিশ্বাস ও বাকস্বাধীনতা সমুন্নত রাখা, সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণ ও বাস্তবায়নে জনগণের সম্পৃক্ততা, সহনশীলতা বৃদ্ধি, সঠিক ভিত্তিক পন্থা নিশ্চিত করা, মানসম্মত শিক্ষা নিশ্চিত করা, যুগপযোগী মানবসম্পদ উন্নয়ন, টেকস্ই জলবায়ু অবকাঠামো ও পরিবেশবান্ধব উৎপাদন, উদ্ভাবনী উন্নয়নে যুব সমাজকে সম্পৃক্ত করা। চাকরিপ্রার্থীদের পরিবর্তে আত্মকর্মসংস্হান সৃষ্টি, ধর্মীয় জাতীয়তাবাদ বা ধর্মীয় অনুপ্রাণিত সহিংসতা ও চরমপন্থাকে নিরুৎসাহিত করা, জনসংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি হ্রাসকরন, বিভিন্ন গোষ্ঠী ও সম্প্রদায়ের মধ্যে আস্থা, বিশ্বাস ও সহযোগিতা গড়ে তোলা, অসহিষ্ণুতা, সংঘাত হ্রাসকরন ইত্যাদি। শান্তিপূর্ণ, উন্নত ও অন্তভূক্তিমূলক বাংলাদেশের গঠতে ও স্বাধীনতার স্বপ্ন পূরনে আমাদের এসব বিষয়ের উপর গুরুত্বআরোপ করতে হবে। একই সাথে আমাদের নিজস্ব সীমাবদ্ধতার মধ্যে জনগণের প্রত্যাশা পূরনে অগ্রাধিকার দিতে হবে।

আমরা, স্থানীয় ধর্মীয় এবং ঐতিহ্যগত শান্তিপ্রণেতারা আজ টেকস্ই সামাজিক, অর্থনৈতিক, পরিবেশগত বা উন্নয়নশীল মানবিক মূল্যবোধ, মর্যাদা, আধ্যাত্মিক সংযোগের বিভিন্ন ক্ষেত্রে সম্মিলিতভাবে বা ব্যক্তিগতভাবে অবদানের প্রতি আমাদের প্রতিশ্রুতি পুনর্ব্যক্ত করছি। কিন্তু টেকসই শান্তি বিনির্মাণে এবং অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজের উন্নয়নে প্রকৃত ভূমিকা কী হওয়া উচিত তা আজকের আলোচনার এজেন্ডার আলোচনার বিষয়।

টেকস্ই উন্নয়ন নীতি, সামাজিক শান্তি এবং স্থায়িত্ব আমাদের জাতীয় অগ্রগতির প্রধান হাতিয়ার। এখন, সময় এসেছে আমাদের শান্তিপ্রণেতাদের ভূমিকা এবং সামাজিক কর্মকাণ্ড এবং উন্নয়ন সংক্রান্ত বিষয়ে আমাদের স্বল্প বা দীর্ঘমেয়াদী কৌশলগুলি সংশোধন করার। এর জন্য টেকস্ই কর্মপরিকল্পনা প্রয়োজন, আমাদের বর্তমান এবং পরবর্তী প্রজন্ম আমাদের অবদান থেকে কী অর্জন করবে। এই কারণেই টেকস্ই উন্নয়ন নীতির প্রয়োজন এবং আমরা টেকস্ই উন্নয়নের লক্ষ্যে আমাদের সমস্ত প্রক্ষিপ্ত কর্মসূচীগুলিকে এগিয়ে নিতে চাই।

দীর্ঘমেয়াদী সামাজিক শান্তি এবং স্থায়িত্ব আনতে আমরা সাধারণত আমাদের সমস্ত সামাজিক কাজ এবং দায়িত্ব বিবেচনা করি। এটি বিভিন্ন উপায়ে শান্তির সংস্কৃতিকেও প্রচার করে। কিন্তু কোন উপায়সমূহ টেকস্ই শান্তি আনে? এবং একটি অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজ গঠনের জন্য  কী কী প্রয়োজন? আমাদের আজকের আলোচনাটি ‘টেকস্ই শান্তি ও অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক বাংলাদেশ বিনির্মাণ’ এ আমরা শান্তিকর্মীদের দায়িত্ব এবং প্রতিশ্রুতির উপর আলোকপাত করব।

টেকস্ই শান্তির একটি সুস্পষ্ট কার্যকরী সংজ্ঞা যাতে ধ্বংসাত্মক গতিশীলতা প্রতিরোধ এবং ইতিবাচক মনোভাবের প্রচার উভয়ই অন্তর্ভুক্ত। আমরা টেকস্ই শান্তিকে এমন একটি রাষ্ট্রে বিদ্যমান হিসাবে সংজ্ঞায়িত করি যেখানে সমস্যা সমাধানের জন্য ধ্বংসাত্মক সংঘাত, নিপীড়ন এবং সহিংসতা ব্যবহার করার সম্ভাবনা এতটাই কম যে এটি দলীয় কৌশলের মধ্যে প্রবেশ করে না, অন্যদিকে সহযোগিতা, সংলাপ এবং সহযোগিতামূলক সমস্যা সমাধান ব্যবহার করার সম্ভাবনা সামাজিক ন্যায়বিচার এবং মঙ্গল এত বেশি যে এটি সামাজিক সংগঠন এবং জীবনকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে। টেকসই শান্তি একটি গঠনমূলক সূচনা, শান্তির সংস্কৃতি এবং যত্নের অনুভূতি প্রদান করে যা শিশুদের এবং প্রাপ্তবয়স্কদের অহিংস উপায়ে তাদের চাহিদা পূরণ করতে সাহায্য করে, যা শিক্ষার্থীদের এবং পরবর্তী প্রজন্মের নেতাদের নিরাপত্তা, অন্তর্ভুক্তি, ন্যায্যতা এবং আশার অভিজ্ঞতা প্রদান করে।

আমরা যদি আমাদের পরিবার ও সমাজে শান্তি স্থাপন করি তবেই আমাদের দেশে টেকসই শান্তি প্রতিষ্ঠা করা সম্ভব। এখানে পরিবার ও সমাজে শান্তি বজায় রাখতে সহযোগিতামূলক ও সুশৃঙ্খল আচরণ জরুরি। যেমন আমরা জানি আমাদের সমাজে বিভিন্ন ধরনের মানুষ বাস করে এবং তাদের প্রত্যেকের প্রকৃতি ও চিন্তাধারা আলাদা। সুতরাং, তারা একে অপরের সাথে ঝগড়া করতে পারে এবং ঝগড়া সময়মতো সমাধান করা উচিত অন্যথায়, এটি সমাজে সমস্যা তৈরি করে যাকে দ্বন্দ্ব বলা হয়। তারপর ব্যক্তি ও গোষ্ঠীর মধ্যে ঐকমত্য তৈরি করে বিরোধের সমাধান করাকে শান্তি বলে।

যুদ্ধ ও সহিংসতা বন্ধ না হলে দেশের উন্নয়ন সম্ভব নয়। তাই দেশে টেকস্ই শান্তি বজায় রাখা খুবই জরুরি। সমাজ ও দেশে টেকস্ই শান্তি প্রতিষ্ঠার বিভিন্ন উপায় রয়েছে। টেকস্ই শান্তি প্রতিষ্ঠার জন্য নিম্নলিখিত ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করা উচিত:

১. অন্যের চিন্তা-চেতনায় সম্মান করা উচিত।

২. সবার জন্য সমান ন্যায়বিচার নিশ্চিত করতে  হবে।

৩. বিবাদমান পক্ষের মধ্যে সংলাপের পরিবেশ তৈরি করতে হবে।

৪. অন্যের সমস্যা অনুভব করা এবং সমস্যার কথা শোনা প্রয়োজন।

৫. সমাজের সকল মানুষকে তাদের জাতি, ধর্ম, বর্ণ বা অর্থনৈতিক অবস্থা নির্বিশেষে সমান সুযোগ দিতে হবে।

৬. লোভী,অহংকারী এবং ঈর্ষান্বিত হওয়া চলবে না।

দ্বন্দ্ব ব্যবস্থাপনার জন্য, সালিসকারীর ভূমিকা অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। বিবাদমান উভয় পক্ষ এবং গোষ্ঠীকে বোঝানোর চেষ্টা করুন, তবে তাকে নিরপেক্ষভাবে কাজ করতে হবে।

টেকস্ই শান্তি বিনির্মাণের জন্য অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজকে বেশি অগ্রাধিকার দেওয়া হয়। সাধারণভাবে, অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজকে এমন একটি হিসাবে সংজ্ঞায়িত করা হয় যেখানে সমস্ত মানুষ মূল্যবান বোধ করে, তাদের পার্থক্যকে সম্মান করা হয় এবং তাদের মৌলিক চাহিদাগুলি পূরণ করা হয়, যাতে তারা মর্যাদাপূর্নভাবে বাস করতে পারে। সংক্ষেপে সমস্ত মানুষকে সাধারণভাবে প্রত্যাশিত বা প্রয়োজনীয় সমস্ত পরিষেবা বা আইটেম সরবরাহ করা হয়, একই সাথে কোনও পক্ষ বা গোষ্ঠীকে বাদ দিয়ে নয়। শুধুমাত্র অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক শান্তি প্রক্রিয়াই সংঘাতের অবসান ঘটাবে। বাংলাদেশে আরও শান্তিপূর্ণ, ন্যায়পরায়ণ ও অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজ গড়ে তোলা আমাদের প্রত্যাশা। দারিদ্র্যতা হ্রাস, স্বাস্থ্য এবং শিক্ষার মতো ক্ষেত্রে গত পাঁচ দশকে উল্লেখযোগ্য অগ্রগতি সত্ত্বেও,এখনও সহিংসতা এবং নিরাপত্তাহীনতা,ন্যায়বিচার ও দূর্বল গণতান্ত্রিক অনুশীলন আমাদের চ্যালেঞ্জগুলির অন্যতম।

টেকস্ই উন্নয়ন লক্ষ্যমাত্রার (এসডিজি) দিকে অগ্রগতির প্রতিফলন ঘটিয়ে আমাদের প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা বলেছেন, “আমাদের যাত্রায় কেউ পিছিয়ে থাকবে না যেহেতু আমরা একটি ন্যায়, প্রগতিশীল, শান্তিপূর্ণ ও সমৃদ্ধ বাংলাদেশ গড়ার আকাঙ্খা করি।” জাতিসংঘের টেকস্ই উন্নয়ন ২০৩০ এজেন্ডা, যা বাংলাদেশ স্বাক্ষর করেছে, পাঁচটি উন্নয়ন অগ্রাধিকারের মধ্যে একটি হওয়ার জন্য শান্তিপূর্ণ, ন্যায়সঙ্গত এবং অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজের প্রচারের আহ্বান জানিয়েছে। টেকস্ই উন্নয়ন লক্ষ্য ১৬, বিশেষ করে, সহিংসতার মাত্রা হ্রাস, ন্যায়বিচারের সুযোগ বৃদ্ধি এবং অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক এবং প্রতিনিধিত্বমূলক সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণের প্রচারের লক্ষ্যগুলি অন্তর্ভুক্ত করে। বাংলাদেশের জন্য স্পষ্টতই সমস্ত প্রাসঙ্গিক বিষয় রয়েছে এবং এটি উৎসাহজনক যে সরকার সপ্তম পঞ্চবার্ষিক উন্নয়ন পরিকল্পনায় এসডিজিগুলিকে একীভূত করার তাদের ইচ্ছার কথা জানিয়েছে।

এর কোনোটিই নিজে থেকে ঘটবে না: পরিবর্তন এজেন্টদের, রাষ্ট্র এবং সমাজ উভয়ের মধ্যেই, লক্ষ্য-১৬ কে চ্যাম্পিয়ন করতে কার্যকরভাবে কাজে লাগাতে হবে। গত ৫0 বছরে যে উন্নয়ন লাভ হয়েছে তা রক্ষা ও টিকিয়ে রাখার উপায় হিসাবে বাংলাদেশে একটি আরও শান্তিপূর্ণ, ন্যায়সঙ্গত এবং অন্তর্ভুক্তিমূলক সমাজ গঠনের প্রচেষ্টাকে অগ্রাধিকার দেওয়া জন্য একটি শক্তিশালী সামাজিক ও রাজনৈতিক অঙ্গীকার সৃষ্টি করতে হবে।

আমাদের মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, স্বাধীনতার উদ্দেশ্য ও স্বপ্ন রাতারাতি পূরণ হয়ে যাবে এমনটা ভাবার কোনো কারণ নেই। তবে দেশপ্রেম, সততা ও মুক্তিযুদ্ধের চেতনা নিয়ে দেশ পরিচালনা করা গেলে অল্প সময়ের মধ্যেই আমাদের স্বপ্ন ‘টেকস্ই শান্তি ও অর্ম্তভূক্তিমূলক বাংলাদেশ বিনির্মাণ’ সত্যি হবে।

The speakers highlighted that although independence was the nation’s highest achievement, we have a long way to go in order to build a peaceful and inclusive Bangladesh which was the core objective of independence. Developing a long term strategic plan is needed to establish a just society, where all men, women and children enjoy the basic fundamental needs, equality and justice, political, economic and social achievements in their respective way of life. This plan needs to clarify the role of the religious and traditional peacemakers in achieving collective goals from individuals, families and communities across the country. Approaches to implement the strategic plan need to represent the needs of local to state level institutions.

The speakers suggested submitting the findings and recommendations to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to be added to and implemented with state level policies. The discussion among the various traditions of peacemakers was lively with commitments made to work jointly in meaningful ways reaching a diverse group of people that will work for a better Bangladesh. Professor Tushar Kanti Barua, Chairman, Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh presided over the dialogue session. Among the participants Prof. Dr. Mohammed Sakendhar Chowdhury, Prof. Ranjit Kumer Dey, Prof. Rita Dutta, Prof. Dr. Bikiran Prasad Barua, heroic freedom fighter Abul Fazal, principal Shimul Barua, Rev Asai Tripura, Iqbal Bahar Sabery, Ms Fatema Beagum, Shouman Chakraborty, Hasan Md. Ripon, Pronab Raz Barua were the remarkable speakers of the dialogue. The keynote paper on Building a Peaceful and Inclusive Bangladesh that described- our achievements and expectations was submitted by Sanat Kumar Barua, General Secretary, Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh and national coordinator, Religious and Traditional Peacemakers- Bangladesh.

The following observations and recommendations were made regarding building a peaceful and inclusive Bangladesh:

1) Observation: Local peacemakers efforts would be organized, meaningful and equipped for building a secular, democratic and peaceful Bangladesh embracing the state constitution in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social rights are secured for all its citizens.

Recommendation: It needs more collaboration and networking with the government, local and international bodies.

2) Observation: In the last fifty years national achievements in social, economic, public health care, education, infrastructure, communication systems etc., have achieved more. However, sustainable policies, people’s expectation and participation, moral and materialistic development are absent. In order to support national interest, sometimes religious or social values are not practiced to: reduce corruption, prevent exploiting the population, misuse national resources, wealth, state power which are against people’s will and independence.

Recommendation: It is urgently needed to motivate the people to build a patriotic , value-based society and apply the best use of religious teachings rather than practicing religions as the tool of self- interest or for pursuing state power.

3) Observation: Changes to the primary level national education system urgently needed, because currently religious learning generates divisions; leads to religious motivated supremacy and, hate crimes; is discriminatory rather than generating love, empathy, respect and so on.

Recommendation: Designing an early childhood value-based education system and multi-religious literacy within Bangladesh’s primary level education system. Also examine education policies in other South Asian countries.

4) Observation: Societal peace and sustainability are the main tools for national progress and development.

Recommendation: The participants emphasized developing a long- term strategic plan to equip and engage in social actions, sustainable development issues, positive change, innovative ways that encourage youth and women to include and also to encourage the unlike minded people in respecting their constructing views through dialogue and motivation.

5) Observation: Radicalization, religiously motivated tension, intolerance, and violent conflict frequently occur nowadays in Bangladesh.

Recommendation: An action plan is needed to identify the root causes and social actions to reduce conflict on a small scale.

6) Observation: The peacemakers prioritized practicing inclusivity in every stage of state levels. But it is regrettable that it is not customized in the present situation.

Recommendation: It should take proper steps within government and non-government levels to meet people’s expectations, respect their uniqueness, diversity and make them feel valued within a just and peaceful society.

7) Observation: The peacemakers argued that our expectation of independence is to build a just and peaceful Bangladesh where everybody enjoys dignified, equitable opportunities and no one leaves behind.

Recommendation: It needs a long- term strategic plan and eagerly wishes to contribute individually and collectively along with the government for promoting an Inclusive Bangladesh for the people.

Overview of the initiative:

Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh is glad enough for kindhearted support from the ‘Female Sangha Initiatives for Social Transformation in Southeast Asia’ project leaded by INEB, in partnership with Join Together Society (JTS Korea) for running a project on ‘Buddhist Women’s Leadership and Livelihood Development of Bangladesh’. It is a first time approach for capacity building and leadership development initiatives of the local Buddhist women to fit them in social and economic needs, promote livelihood with equity and dignity, meaningful participation, decision making process, peacebuilding and development policies inclusion. It focused on their needs and made them fit as the diver of hope and inspiration of their respective families and communities, not leave them behind as gender identity and to ensure sustainable livelihood embracing the Lord Buddha’s teaching in the way of life. In Bangladesh women generally contribute more at home and out but are denied basic rights to meet  their social and economic needs. In many cases their contribution is not recognised and they get less privilege in access to development issues and fitting them for the current societal needs. In general women are abused with  gender based/domestic/social violence, inequalities and oppressions in social and economic life. Sometimes patriarchy, social restrictions, freedom of choice/expression/participation deprived them to qualify  in social and economic achievements. The COVID-19 pandemic situation also made it difficult in their everyday life. As a religious minority the Buddhist women are in worse situations in many locations. Buddhists mainly in villages and remote areas live in poverty and are deprived of basic needs to uplight their condition. So, we have targeted poor and remote areas where it is very much needed for developing capacities and make them empowered for fulfilling their social and economic needs, and lead them in sustainable livelihood. We have selected 10 geographic places within 4 districts and targeted 250 promising young, interested women in different Buddhist villages and urban areas in Chattogram (7 spots), Rangamati (1 spot), Cox’s Bazaar(1 spot) and Dhaka (1 spot) districts. Later we changed Cox’s Bazaar, Dhaka replaced Bandharbon, Kharachari districts to add ethnic Buddhist women from different groups. Buddhist women in the CHT districts need more  support to overcome the difficulties for lack of proper facilities or support than urban women in Chattogram and Dhaka metropolitan cities.  We have initially conducted surveys and dialogues for selecting the participants and their needs for sustainable livelihood. There are 124 from the Barua community, 75 ethnic Chakma, Marma, Tanchanga from CHT ethnic community and 11 Bhikkhuni Sangha from Barua and ethnic communities participated in the project initiative. It is estimated that 250 Buddhist women from 250 households (30% young, 60% mid aged,10% old aged).

We started the project activities from May 2, 2021 . Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the government has implemented a lockdown from April 5 to April 30 and due to high peaks we also were unable to stop the activities from June mid to August 20 . We have to postpone our programs and gatherings due government restrictions on all physical gatherings. We started some project activities and communications in six target locations. The rest four locations are far from us and  some are in Chittagong Hill tracts (CHT), where Buddhist women need more project benefits for developing their social and livelihood. In the first step, we have started feasibility study, formal project based discussions and field surveys with participant needs . In all the locations it was very inspiring , especially the eagerness of women’s inclusion in development issues. We arranged a concept note and our project objectives with their desire and social needs. Also have some inspiring quotes from project objects from the  INEB and JTS KOREA, specially venerable Pomnyun Sunim contributions for developing the Buddhist women in the Southeast Asian countries. After August 20 we started the Training Workshop in different target locations. And October 30, successfully finished the training workshops, field visitation, project evaluations on contemporary Bangladeshi women and project achievement on uplifting Buddhist women’s social dignity, right based approaches, peace building and developing sustainable livelihood. In short, we consider it as a pilot project and to broaden it’s initiatives in an institutional way for all Bangladeshi women as a center of social innovation for empowering and capacity building of the local and grassroots level women by promoting their meaningful social and economic inclusion, encourage them in social innovation and fit them for building an inclusive society. It is necessary to include the women in social and economic ways for societal peace, sustainability and sustainable national progress of Bangladesh.       

Objectives:

The project ‘Buddhist Women’s Leadership and Livelihood Development’ is a new innovative initiative in our Bangladesh Buddhist perspective. We have developed a concept paper for a clear understanding of the project. It is focused on uplifting the status of Buddhist women in organization and community, promoting gender equality, women led entrepreneurship and business management development, local  safe food production, advocacy on women’s leadership, gender based violence, peacebuilding, promoting religious pluralism and inclusion in sustainable development. We designed training schedules as 1) Pre-training idea sharing with participants and organizers 2) Survey and interactive dialogue on schedule trainings (outcomes, outputs and impact) 3) Training workshop on ‘Buddhist Women’s role on sustainable social and economic development of Bangladesh’ 4) Training with hands and tools ( Eco Friendly household items production, beautification training, safe food production and sustainable food security promotion, innovative social entrepreneurship and business management development) 5) Field works evaluation 6) Introduction of digital technology and e-commerce as service providers  7) Post training monitoring on self employment and it’s promotion 8) Long term initiatives for collective or individual development by forming cooperative/joint venture for local community development. The project activities are challenging and difficult to implement in the root levels for lack of trained volunteers, expert trainers, smart training curriculum, communication gap , short project duration, limit of funds, formal training center, training materials, stipend etc.  Firstly we have started the project activities in full swing. But due to the high pick of COVID situations we faced difficulties in physical gathering, discouragement of participants, lack of cooperation from the local support groups, increased transportation costs. So, it has postponed the activities for  more than two months and also rescheduled some programs on field level development project activities and training. But theoretical learning and group work continued successfully. The training workshops were designed to build capacities on the learning fields in very interactive ways.

Challenges and difficulties:

The project activities are very effective for building capacity and empowering our women in social and economic development ways for building sustainable livelihood. Our women are the willing force in home and out. They are closely involved in family and community to implement any sorts of progress or changes. But their roles are limited in meaningful ways and the decision making process at every stage. We are trying to fit them into social changes and interconnect them in every social and economic development way as hope and inspiration of families and community levels. If they are equipped with modern learning and generate them with positive outlooks, they can build a brighter generation with ethical values and wisdom, would play in developing the Buddhist community in sustainable ways and would contribute to national progress. It is difficult to change it in a short term of time, informal ways, lack of project staff, trainers, well equipped learning modules and training lab, technical materials and a particular guideline for long term benefits. In the project time we are faced with more difficulties due to COVID pandemic situation and coordinating with the local participants. It caused panics within the participants  in the physical gathering, organizing the 10 project areas which were distances from 25 kms to 170 kms from our organization. Many of the participants were wage workers or engaged in local business. So without economic benefits, it becomes difficult to ensure their participation. For the first time it is challenging to organize just training modules focusing on all level participants, selection of interested participants, suitable project areas, working team, communication and trust building among the root level participants and we are grateful for the support from the Buddhist monks and social activists. We have successfully completed theoretical learnings, not able to complete the technical training in hand and tool, field work evaluations due to COVID situation and lack of voluntary trainers. Technical learnings are very needed in most project areas, the participants also desired most but it needs more technical hands, financial support and a long term approach for better achievement.

Specific results (Outputs, Outcomes, Impact): 

Activity 1: Pre-training idea sharing

Outputs: The participants are well acknowledged on Buddhist value based sustainable women empowerment project activities

Outcomes: Highly motivated and encouraged to participate

Impact: Positive changes in value based social engagement

Activity 2: Survey and interactive dialogue

Outputs: Found out possibilities and problems on the Buddhist women development 

Outcomes: Innovative idea generated for training learning fields

Impact: Realistic learning tools are selected for sustainable women development

Activity 3: Training workshop ‘Buddhist women’s role on sustainable social and economic development of Bangladesh’

Outputs:  The participants are well defined with value  based women empowerment issues on social, economic, environment and human right based approaches for sustainable livelihood, community and national development

Outcomes: Encouraged and improved the capacities on sustainable livelihood and community development issues

Impacts: Would play as the driver of hope and inspiration-working on dignified better livelihood and sustainable societal changes from family to state levels

Activity 4: Training with hands and tools [motivated only]

Outputs: Connected with importance on eco-friendly household product and safe healthy food production, beautification training and innovative social entrepreneurship and business management development for sustainable livelihood 

Outcomes: Got interested to work as entrepreneur rather than service holder

Impacts: Would play as change makers in local economics

Activity 5: Fields works evaluation [not full completed]

Outputs:  Inspired to sharpen their meaningful contribution in daily life

Outcomes:  Applying sustainable development policies for better livelihood

Impacts:  Would bring long term positive changes in social and development ways

Activity 6: Post training monitoring [not full completed]

Outputs:  Making connection with the innovative economic development ways

Outcomes: Would lead right livelihoods and mindful ways of life

Impacts: Social peace and  economic sustainability would prevail in the society

Activity 7: Long term approaches [continues]

Outputs: Local Buddhist women would play as actors on social/economic development ways and achieve change maker’s attitude for social innovation.

Outcomes: Would play as leaders in decision making and implementation process in social and development ways

Impacts: The trained up Buddhist women will play positive roles in sustainable community building and continue their efforts for nation development and overall achievements. 

Observations:

1)Social attitudes- Women in Bangladesh generally take care of their families. Employed women earn money and do all family work. In the Buddhist community, they contribute to the propagation of Buddhism and rituals. But their contributions are not recognised in many ways, some of the participants said.  Some of them mentioned, the community doesn’t admit their roles and responsibilities in meaningful ways. They added, there are no action oriented roles in uplifting status and dignity of the local Buddhist women or other community levels also. The participants expressed satisfaction for adding them in the Buddhist women’s development project activities and changing their mental attitudes in meaningful participation in every social issue, in the decision making process. They got confidence as the driver of hope and inspiration, as change makers, overcoming gender based discrimination or social patriarchacy. They also expressed satisfaction in participating in social rights based approaches,mentioning the importance of their contribution in the community and the need for empowerment in meaningful social inclusion for sustainable community and local development. 

2)Economic value– the participants realized their economic contribution is less than men but sometimes bigger than men. Once they are treated as caretaker of the families but in some ways considered as  the willing forces in economic development ways. They mentioned that we inspire them and make them fit to contribute to the local economy by generating business, entrepreneurship, and productive ways rather than service providers.  

3)Environmental ethics- One of the most important topics is to build awareness on conservation of our surrounding nature and environment following the Buddha’s teaching. Generating loving-kindness to all beings and non-living nature, use of eco-friendly products, ethical consumerism for low carbon emission, keep the mother earth a  liveable place for all living beings. Every participant got inspired and committed in keeping their contribution for saving the earth from unethical greed, lust and consumerism.

4)Human right based approaches- The participants mentioned, they have little knowledge on basic human/constitutional rights, Govt Women development policy-2011, universal declaration on human rights, CEDAW, UNSDGs. We gave them a light understanding on the women’s rights based approaches and importance of all men and women participation for building an equitable, discrimination free, dignified society. They expressed their satisfaction for including them in the right based approaches and making them a general understanding on these important issues.

Overall observations and recommendations:

1. It needs an equitable opportunity to develop Buddhist women as human resources in social and economic ways. We have conducted basic theoretical learnings on women empowerment. Now, it needs technical/practical learnings for them to implement it in field levels for social and economic benefits.    
2. Our Buddhist women are interested in engaging in social innovation by promoting their latent talents by developing entrepreneurship or promoting business rather than as job holders.   
3. It needs women’s leadership development for meaningful participation and decision making process in every stage from family to national life.
4. It is essential to change positive approaches for adding more women’s participation in sustainable peacebuilding, conflict resolutions, disaster management, humanitarian services etc     
5. Well equiped technical/quality education and meaningful social engagement can reduce gender based violence and discrimination within women of Bangladesh
6. It needs long term approaches to change men’s outlook and social attitudes for uplifting women’s equal rights and dignity in all levels.

Now, we plan to implement some findings in an institutional way by forming a center of social innovation. It is important to set up a social innovative training centre for our Buddhist women in promoting women led entrepreneurship, developing business management and empowering them in productive ways . We do hope it would be possible to skill up one thousand Buddhist women to make them fit for right livelihoods embracing the Lord Buddha’s noble eightfold within the next two years and after that time we are hopeful to implement the proposed initiatives within our large women community. It would be a Buddhist based effort for our women of Bangladesh to add them to productive ways and develop their leadership to lead positive changes. We emphasize on sammak gibhika/right livelihood as the first priority, as we are not able to ensure better life, we will not ensure our societal peace and a strong community to sustain in the 21th century. We hope INEB and JTS Korea will extend their generous support for the next project.

The Atisha Interfaith Council Bangladesh started its activities  as a pilot project under the technical and financial support of the EU funded SEA-AIR Project and a consortium  led by the Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers   in some innovative ways. At first a research team of five members and a working group of six members were formed with a secure spirit from multi-religious groups; actually the team members are treated as the core members of the Council. Initially we  organized a day long ‘Interfaith Leadership Development’ training on March 20, 2020 at the Caritas Training Center, Ctg  for 50 multi-religious actors and peace actors ( with 3 modules and 12 lessons) on understanding FoRB, Peace-building, youth & women empowerment, religious literacy, universal responsibilities, UN SDGs, COVID-19 and faiths,  making them fit on sustainable peace and development issues. The training was interactive and  participatory ,the participants enjoyed visionary learning with new hope and inspiration. The training also connected the actors with working for sustainable community building rather than traditional ways.

The second project initiatives were intra-faith dialogues with leaders of the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities respectively. The first intra-faith dialogue was with the Buddhist community leaders on ‘ Buddhist Efforts for Sustainable Leadership Development ’ in Chattagram Metropolitan area. About 36 active and potential Buddhist community leaders from local to international levels were present with interesting moods and sometimes were confused with the common efforts. But appreciated for intellectual ways for leadership developments. Next dialogue with the Hindu community leaders on ‘ Hindu Efforts for Sustainable Leadership Development’ with very fruitful ways. Almost 40 senior level Hindu leaders participated in the dialogue with curiosity and cooperative ways. We found some painful experiences during the Independence period, 1971 and mob attacks,  communal violence they faced during some critical times. Also mentioned their leadership inefficiency for community development in some cases. The leaders appreciated the initiative and for path findings for community development. The dialogue on ‘ Muslim Efforts for Sustainable Leadership Development ‘ was an important event in the intra-faith dialogue. About 35 Muslim leaders from different groups were present in the dialogue with their approaches for building a moderate Bangladesh where every people would live harmoniously  with each other according to constitutional rights and not to use Islam as a tool for their personal and group interest. Last intra-faith dialogue was with the Christian community leaders  in a church on the same issue. It was impressive and collaborative . About more than 40 actors participated in the interactive dialogue and emphasized on working together for leadership development and ensuring peace and security.

An interreligious effort on ‘National Inter-faith Peace Dialogue’ was hold on Feb 19 at Hotel Kashbon, Ctg  with the participation from Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian  community leaders. About 70 religious leaders took part in the dialogue and emphasized  practice on love, mercy, compassion and non-violence for developing an interreligious platform under the Council for sustainable peace building and ensuring religious harmony for a prosperous and peaceful Bangladesh.

We have visited with some interreligious leaders and community members to extend solidarity during the COVID situation and exchanged views for a collective interfaith effort to overcome social difficulties and calamities. Also have served ‘Interfaith COVID-19 solidarity gifts ‘ to some religious leaders and actors.

A high level  online workshop on ‘Inter-religious Approaches for Sustainable Community Building’ was held on April 30 with more than 50 participants from the diverse religious and civil society members from different parts of Bangladesh and also had a welcome note from the network project manager Mr. Philip Gassert. The workshop was focused on ‘FORB: Contemporary Bangladesh and Global Perspective, Religious Peace Building, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and UN SDGs. The workshop learning enriched  the participants with modern techniques on sustainable peace building and development issues for inter-religious community building. 

The final project initiative was Training of the Trainers (ToT) Workshop on ‘ Inter-religious Sustainable Leadership Development ‘. The three days online ToT workshop was held on May 1, 7 and 8, 2021 with 40 participants from multi-religious and civil society groups from different parts of the country. The ToT event was equipped with 3 modules and 6 sessions on FoRB, UDHR, UN SDGs, Peace building, Building universal responsibilities & worldviews, Gender equity and women in Bangladesh within interactive ways. The main focus of the event is to build the inter-religious actors with high skills knowledge, idea sharing and fit them for positive change in sustainable inter-religious community building. In some ways it was achieved well and  would be able to connect them in their respective fields.  

Sanat Kumar Barua, Coordinator-Atisha Interfaith Council Bangladesh

The International Day of Peace (PEACE DAY) is observed on Sept 21 at the Caritas Training Centre in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Religious and Traditional Peacemakers from different parts of the country participated in the events with festive mood along with an annual peacemakers congregation committed to local sustainable peace and peace building efforts for global peace. Every year the Peace Day is celebrated by Atisha Dipankar Peace Trust Bangladesh  to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all people around the world. It provides the local peacemakers a globally shared date for humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace.

A discussion on the Peace Day theme ‘Recovering Better for a Sustainable and Equitable World World’  is held chaired by Dr. Dibakar Barua. Eminent educator and professor of the Chittagong University Dr. Sakander Chowdhury was presented as the chief guest. Among others Hindu community leader adv. Tapan Kanti Das, Buddhist scholar prof. Dr. Dipankar Srigyan Barua, Christain priest Rev. Asai Tripura and Professor Masum Ahmed participated as speakers. Before the discussion, an interreligious prayer and one minute of silence remembering the departed one who have lost their life from COVID pendemic and global peace. The speakers highlighted on recovering better for a more equitable and peaceful world by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion, kindness, and hope in the face of the pandemic, and as we recover. And emphasised on national unity for promoting an inclusive society in the fifty anniversary of independence of the state and leaving no one behind as religious or gender discrimination and ensure a peaceful Bangladesh for their countrymen. After the discussion a Peace Talk is held with participation of local peace actor’s role in the last year and engagement in the pandemic period. Peacemaker Kazi Iqbal Bahar Sabery, Sanat Kumar Barua, Mir Md. Ferdous Salim, Anna Sampson, Sanatan Chakroby Bijoy, Shaymal Chowdhury, Sarif Nabab Hossain, Hasan Mohammad Ripon, Ven.Dr. Priyadarshi Mahathero, Shampa Chowdhury  took parts and shared their engagement in local peacebuilding for common benefits for all and uplifting socioeconomic, environmental ethics, human values, 2030 agenda for the UN SDGs etc for contributing an inclusive society & to envision an equitable and sustainable world for all of us.