Bashundhara Shuvosangho has organised an open discussion in Mathbaria of Pirojpur, calling for social harmony, mutual respect and tolerance among people of different religious and social backgrounds.
Titled “Let Harmony, Not Division, Be Our Strength; Let Us Build a Harmonious Society Through Mutual Respect”, the discussion highlighted the need to guard against rumours and provocation and maintain cordial relations among people regardless of religion or ethnicity.
The Mathbaria unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho organised the event on the green premises of Khas Mahal Latif Institution in Mathbaria municipal town on Monday afternoon, 19 October.
Abdus Salam Azadi, former president of Mathbaria Press Club and a senior journalist, chaired the discussion.
Participants included veteran journalist Jamal H Akon; Debabrata Haldar, vice-president of the Mathbaria upazila unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho and a teacher; Suman Bepari, a member of the organisation and sculptor; Shibaji Majumdar Shibu, its organising secretary; and members Gazi Al Amin, Sourav Gharati, Golam Rabbi, Imdad Hossain Rabbi and Badal Krishna Tutu.
Debdas Majumdar, an adviser to Mathbaria Shuvosangho and Pirojpur regional correspondent for Kaler Kantho, was also present.
Mehedi Hasan, general secretary of the Mathbaria unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho and a poet, moderated the discussion.
Speakers said people of different religions and ethnic backgrounds had lived together in Bangladesh for generations through mutual cooperation and goodwill. They stressed that everyone must play a responsible role in preserving these social bonds.
They urged people to remain vigilant against rumours, misinformation and provocative statements that could create divisions in society. They also called on people to avoid sharing information without verifying its accuracy or reacting impulsively to emotionally charged content.
The speakers emphasised that mutual respect, tolerance and regard for others’ opinions and beliefs were essential to maintaining peace and harmony. They said no one should face neglect or discrimination because of their religion, beliefs or identity.
They called on families, educational institutions and social organisations to help instil human values and a sense of social responsibility among young people.
Highlighting the role of the younger generation, the speakers said young people could encourage others to practise harmony while maintaining cordial relationships among themselves. They added that any division or tension in society should be addressed through responsible behaviour, dialogue and mutual cooperation.
The speakers also noted that Bashundhara Shuvosangho had been working to support people through various social and humanitarian initiatives. They urged the organisation’s members to play an active role in protecting social harmony, promoting human values and spreading a spirit of mutual cooperation.
At the end of the discussion, participants pledged to build a harmonious society based on mutual respect, tolerance and cooperation, setting aside divisions. They also expressed their solidarity with the initiative.