Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Dhaka

IIFWP-Bangladesh organized a seminar entitled "Forging a Path to Peace: Christian-Muslim Dialogue" on the evening of July 27, 2004 at the Sundarban Hotel. Approximately 70 distinguished scholars from the USA, Canada, Pakistan, and Bangladesh attended the seminar, which was presided over by Prof. M. Shamsher Ali, Vice Chancellor of the Southeast University.

Mr. Mosharef Hossain Shahjahan, Honorable State Minister for Religious Affairs of the government of Bangladesh, was present as the Chief Guest. Speakers included Dr. Riffat Hassan, Professor of Religious Studies, and Dr. John McLeod, Professor of History at Louisville University in the United States; Rev. James H. Brown, a minister of the Presbyterian Church; Professor ANM Abdul Mannan Khan of the Department of Arabic Studies at Dhaka University; and Dr. A.N.M. Wahidur Rahaman, Professor of Philosophy at Chittagong University. Professor Nazma Khan Maglish, Professor Kazi Nurul Islam, and Professor Dalem Chandra Barman of Dhaka University participated in the discussion, along with others, including Sister Eugenia, General Secretary of the International Association for Religious Freedom.

Honorable State Minister Mr. Mosharef Hossain Shahjahan said that a lasting or peaceful society is impossible unless different faiths are understood in their proper perspective. Professor Shamsher Ali stated that any man’s death anywhere in the world should shock us. Therefore, there should be united efforts to save mankind. He asserted that the crying need of the hour is to give a clarion call to all people to place utmost importance on moral development and deep-hearted religious thinking to establish peace in the world.