Stand by Rohingyas

Expressing solidarity with the Rohingya refugees, a group of interfaith leaders in Sylhet yesterday called upon the international community to stand by the persecuted people.

The interfaith dialogue of Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist leaders was held in Sylhet Zila Parishad Auditorium in the morning. Sylhet Catholic Dharma Pradesh in association with Caritas and World Vision organised it.

Some 700,000 Rohingyas fled violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state and have been living in Bangladesh since August last year. They joined some 300,000 Rohingyas who fled similar violence in the past.

The speakers also called upon the interfaith leaders to raise voice on the issue.

During the meeting, the religious leaders also expressed concerned over the Islamist groups' demand of removing the bust of Rabindranath Tagore from the Gopinath Jiu Temple premises at Manipuripara in Sylhet city's Machimpur area.

Condemning the move, they said such a demand was against communal harmony and in contradiction to the core values of all religions.

On June 12, the Tagore bust and memorial -- commemorating his visit to the temple (on November 6, 1919) -- were unveiled on its premises by the city mayor.

Days after the inauguration, a group led by Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam and Khilafat Majlish started protesting against the sculpture.

A press release signed by Emran Alam, general secretary of Khelafat Majlish's Sylhet metro unit, stated that a joint meeting of both parties was held on June 21 and they demanded removal of the bust immediately. They will start a street movement if the demand is not met, added the press release.

At yesterday's meeting, among others, Sanghananda Thero, principal of Sylhet Bouddha Bihar; Chandranathananda Maharaj, principal of Sree Ramakrishna Mission in Sylhet; Bejoy N D'Cruze, bishop of Sylhet region; Shah Md Nazrul Islam, deputy director of the Islamic Foundation in Sylhet; and Nasir Ullah, additional deputy magistrate, spoke.