(BSS) - Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said Bangladesh has no religious division and people of every faith are practicing their religious festival and rituals peacefully, reiterating the interim government`s commitment to pursue religious harmony in the country.

"There is no religious division in our Bangladesh. Everyone is practicing their respective religions peacefully and in coexistence," he said.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at Kathin Chibar Dan Utsab of the Bouddha Community at Bodhinana Meditation Centre, Ashulia, Dhaka.

But a class of fascist intellectuals in our country always tries to divert the issue into a different sector, he said.

The Home Adviser said that the current interim government is always committed to maintaining communal harmony in the country.

He said that the government has taken all measures to peacefully celebrations of the month-long Katri Chibar Dan Utsab in all Buddhist monasteries in the country.

The Home Adviser said establishing of a global standard university in Bangladesh in the name of Buddhist scholar, religious preceptor, and philosopher Atish Dipankar is a demand of time.

"Establishing an international standard university in the name of Atish Dipankar in his birthplace, Bangladesh, is the demand of the time," he said.

He said that Atish Dipankar is a memorable name in East Asia and the world in the field of practicing and propagating Buddhism and philosophy.

The Tibetans awarded him the title Atish, which means `peace` he said.

Describing Atish Dipankar as a religious leader, teacher, scholar, writer, philosopher, and orator, he said, "As a son of Bangladesh, we are proud of the achievements and global fame of the scholar Atish Dipankar."

His knowledge, philosophy, religious practice, work, and education need to be spread more widely across our country, he said.

The Home Adviser said that the basic principles of Buddhism are to establish peace by binding everyone with the bond of non-violence, equality, friendship and love.
The followers of Buddha are working towards that goal, he said.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkody, businessman Dayal Kumar Barua, Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, businessman Subhasish Chakma, Colonel Didarul Alam, among others, spoke at the event.