Dhaka:A delegation from the Church of England has proposed the establishment of a parliamentary caucus focused on freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh, aiming to enhance religious tolerance, mutual respect, and harmony among diverse communities.
According to United News of Bangladesh, this proposal was presented during a meeting between Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal and Dr. Charles Reed, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Church of England, held at the Deputy Speaker's office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The meeting highlighted the government's successful support and security arrangements during the recent Durga Puja celebrations, which was commended for its peaceful and festive atmosphere.
The delegation expressed their interest in collaborating with parliamentarians to advance freedom of religion or belief, mutual respect, tolerance, and awareness, aiming to strengthen harmony among different religious communities. Discussions included the potential formation of a parliamentary caucus within the Bangladesh Parliament to further these goals.
Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal emphasized Bangladesh's tradition of communal harmony, stressing that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to practice their religion and equal rights. He described the proposed parliamentary caucus as a constructive initiative that could lead to issue-based discussions, experience-sharing among MPs, and policy formulation, ultimately contributing to a tolerant society.
The meeting also touched upon expanding cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in areas such as parliamentary affairs, good governance, and social development. Participants included British High Commission Governance Adviser Shahnaz Karim, Social Development Adviser Tahera Jabin, FORB Project National Coordinator Ruhi Naz, and Senior Programme Manager Shashanka Baran Roy, along with officials from the Parliament Secretariat.