Bangladeshi prelates seek Christian representation in governance

Published: November 08, 2024 10:54 AM GMT

A delegation of bishops met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and raised concerns of the community

Catholic Bishops in Bangladesh have urged Professor Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, to ensure representation for the Christian community in his government and its crucial reform process.

Representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB) handed over a letter to Yunus on Nov. 7 expressing concerns over the lack of Christian representation in the interim government formed on Aug. 8 following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

The delegation of eight bishops led by Oblate Archbishop Bejoy N D’Cruze of Dhaka, in its first meeting with the head of the interim government, stressed that the August uprising that unseated former prime minister Hasina’s Awami League from power “has created unprecedented scope for reforming the state.”

The prelates also said all communities “need to work together to make it [reforms] a success.”

The interim government comprised 21 members, but apart from Supradip Chakma, a former diplomat who belongs to the ethnic Chakma community, and Bidhan Ranjan Roy from the Hindu community, the ethnic and religious minority communities were not represented.

There was none from the Christian community, the delegation reportedly stressed in its meeting with Yunus on Nov. 7.

Religious minorities make up 17 million in the Muslim-majority nation of more than 170 million, according to the 2022 national census.

Hindus constitute almost 14 million, while some 1 million Buddhists form the second largest minority, and 500,000 Christians are the next dominant group, with 400,000 of them Catholics.

“As there is an effort to reform the constitution, it is essential to incorporate the ideas of nationalism, secularism, non-communalism, human rights, and the means of improving the elements of good citizens,” D’Cruze told Yunus.

The interim government has formed ten commissions to recommend changes to the nation’s 1972 constitution and ways to make governance more inclusive and democratic.The commissions are tasked with proposing ways to reform public administration, elections, the judiciary, police, the anti-corruption framework, women’s affairs, mass media, health, and labor rights. 

The reforms were initiated after Hasina fled the country on Aug. 5 following a bloody public uprising against her despotic 15-year rule, marked by corruption and rights violations.

“We said we are serving the people of all faiths and ethnicity in Bangladesh through our institutions,” D’Cruze told UCA News on Nov. 8.

The delegation members briefed Yunus about the Catholic Church’s presence in Bangladesh through its eight dioceses and some 1,000 Catholic Church-run schools, colleges, universities, technical education institutions, hospitals, and orphanages.

Its social service arm, Caritas Bangladesh, along with other Christian organizations like World Vision Bangladesh, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh, and Heed Bangladesh, is actively engaged in serving the disadvantaged.

“The Christian community in Bangladesh loves this country. This should be a country where there will be rule of law, human dignity and equity in every sphere of life,” D’Cruze said.

He said apart from the majority Bengali community, 45 ethnic communities are living in Bangladesh, and their recognition in the constitution as indigenous peoples is essential.

The current constitution of Bangladesh pledges to conserve “secularism” while also declaring Islam as its state religion, which the archbishop said is contradictory and needs revision.

D’Cruze said the delegation also urged Yunus to consider declaring public holidays on Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday. Currently, Christmas is the only declared Christian public holiday.

The delegation also raised specific challenges faced in managing church-run schools due to interference by government authorities.

The bishops handed Yunus a cheque for 2.5 million taka (US$21,000) to help the victims of the recent flooding.

“The chief adviser listened to us and said he would look into the concerns we raised,” D’Cruze said.