It was Tuesday 21st September- we observed the International Day of Peace in Bangladesh. Like last year, we are happy to observe this day at Khagrachari – a hilly district of Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Two CC (Flower Exchange Initiative & Anando CC) jointly organized this day under the organizational support of Anando- a national NGO of Bangladesh. It is not so easy to observe this day here in Chittagong Hill Tracts, as it is a special zone though it is now calm after signing a Peace Treaty with Govt. and the JSS on 2nd December 1997. Now there is cold war between the resettled Bengalis from the plane and the main 13 indigenous ethnic communities there. So, it is needed special permission from local district authority to conduct any of such meeting etc. However, we obtained all those observing this day in befitting manner as follows:
The day was observed inviting both the representatives from the Bengalis and the ethnics. It is noted here that before starting the session the rivalry leaders exchanged flowers among them. There were 12 leaders along with more than 300 men, women, college going youths representing from the local Govt., social elites, academic institutions, religio & business community, NGOs and finally from Govt. After several other fruitful programs with the children in the morning; the main discussion session was organized in the afternoon. The representatives from all the 4- religio communities in CHT were honoured in the dais including the Buddhist and Christian minorities. Mr. Rahat Hussain, TNO- the Chief of Govt. was present there as Chief Guest.
The session was blessed from the recitation from 4 holy scripts of Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christians and formally started with a peace song of Tagore. The discussion reflected both from the Bengalis and from the indigenous ethnic communities. Still the ethnic communities are in pain loosing land etc.; so, they expressed their miseries, while the Bengalis committed not to repeat the unfortunate event by any group any more. Both the representative took their seats side by side under the shed of Anando Training Center at Khagrachari. Mr. Francis Halder in his speech stated the root of the IDP in 1967, by the call of Pope Paul VI followed by formal UN starting from 1981. He went in depth on the statement of the Secretary-General, to Mark IDP, particularly calling the young people for tackling global challenges with innovative plans and ideas
The Chief Guest from Govt. cautioned the community that by this time a lot of time has been killed doing chaos and conflict in CHT. Now time has come to utilize every moment together for nation building. It was not just a formal day observance in Khagrachari but the real effort for establishing peace here in conflicting CHT. This is the consecutive 3rd year, where this IDP has been observing incorporating representatives from both the rival groups and Govt. Chief. The Chair of the session solicited innovative plans for observing this day in more creative way again in next year. The session ended with vote of thanks to the organizers for implementing a noble practical effort in such a remote corner. The session finally ended through a short film on Lalon Shah Fakir- a spiritual leader of Sufism in Bangladesh.
Francis Halder
A well wisher of URI in Bangladesh
