DHAKA, June 1, 2021 (BSS) – State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan today said taking the lessons of Gautama Buddha is essential now for establishment of world peace and resisting evil forces.
“Overcoming greed, lust and jealousy, Gautama Buddha preached the message of non-violence, equality, friendship and compassion for the welfare and peace of mankind throughout his life,” he said.
“The ultimate goal of Buddha was to build an ideal and civilised society through peace and harmony,” the minister told a virtual discussion, marking the Buddha Purnima-2021, an official release said.
Like other communities in Bangladesh, he said, various development projects are being undertaken and implemented for the welfare of the country’s Buddhist community during the tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said about 6,000 Buddhist children received education in 100 education centres till 2017 under the Pagoda-based pre-primary and religious education project.
Faridul, also the chairman of the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust, said at present pre-primary and religious and moral education is being provided to 20,000 Buddhist children in 12 districts of the country under the second phase of this project.
He said the deposit of the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust has been increased to Taka seven crore as a result of the present government’s allocation — of an additional Taka four crore — to the fund.
Chaired by vice-chairman of the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Supta Bhushan Barua, the meeting was addressed, among others, by trust’s senior vice-chairmen Ramesh Chandra Sen, MP, and Aroma Dutta, MP, religious affairs secretary Md Nurul Islam and office secretary of ruling Awami League Barrister Biplob Barua.