Democratic environment needed for religious harmony

A democratic environment can help ensure religious harmony and make living easier for minority communities in Bangladesh, said an Indian author-journalist yesterday.

Bahar Uddin, a Kolkata-based writer and columnist, made the remark in his lecture titled “Islam vs Terrorism” organised by Bangladesh Itihas Sammilani, a forum of historians, at Poet Sufia Kamal auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka.

Bahar Uddin, who has been visiting Bangladesh since mid-1970s, suggested emphasising on study of comparative religion or Islamic history at universities in Bangladesh to create a more tolerant society.

Members of the Hindu community are important to the country's pluralistic identity, he said. “We do not want any Bangladeshi Hindu leaving the country for India after being deprived of justice,” he added.

Also in his lecture, Bahar Uddin said Islam should be explained from its primary source, to fight against its misinterpretation.

He said misinterpretation of Islam is done to materialise ill motives.

Speaking as a discussant, researcher and war crimes trial campaigner Shahriar Kabir said use of religion in politics has been responsible for creating intolerance and terrorism.

Prof Muntasier Mamoon, president of Itihas Sammilani, chaired the event.