Khulna: Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Islamic University (IU) unit today organized a view-exchange program with the students of different faiths. The program was arranged following Shibir’s 48th founding anniversary at the TSCC area. During the event, many students from different religions, including Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist, were present and expressed their concerns and thoughts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Hindu student Tushar Malakar highlighted issues faced during Ramadan, stating that hall dining remains shut, leaving many students in a difficult situation to manage their food. He also mentioned the sensitivity around using the same utensils to cook beef, fish, and other food items, which poses a problem for some students.
Christian student Pradip Kumar Das emphasized the importance of unity and merit, stating that the university is home to members of all religions and that the country belongs to everyone. He expressed a desire for students to unite and move the country forward with integrity.
Buddhist student Montu Chakma shared the unique challenges faced by people from hill tracts, noting that cultural differences continue to pose problems even after university admission. He highlighted the need for more accommodating facilities, as some residential halls, like Sheikh Russel hall, do not provide separate rooms for students of different religions.
IU Shibir President Mahmudul Hasan responded to these concerns by reaffirming that Chhatra Shibir is an ideology-based student organization open to dialogue. He assured that Islam does not impose beliefs on followers of other religions and emphasized the need for the administration to avoid scheduling departmental programs on the religious holidays of other faiths. Hasan reiterated that their constitution is inclusive, welcoming all students regardless of religion, and committed to working on these issues with the university administration.