A delegation representing the Church of England has put forward a proposal to establish a parliamentary caucus on freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh, with the aim of fostering religious tolerance, mutual respect and communal harmony among the country’s diverse communities.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal and Dr Charles Reed, the Church of England’s foreign‑policy adviser, presented the proposal during a meeting held in the deputy speaker’s office at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on 5 November.
At a meeting, Dr. Reed and officials from the British High Commission commended the government’s support and security arrangements for the recent Durga Puja celebrations, noting that the peaceful, festive atmosphere was welcomed by diverse sections of society.
They said that guaranteeing people of all faiths the freedom to observe their religious festivals is an essential characteristic of a democratic government.
The delegation said it was interested in collaborating with parliamentarians to promote freedom of religion or belief, mutual respect, tolerance and awareness, and to strengthen harmony among different religious communities.
Lawmakers met with the deputy speaker to discuss the prospect of creating a parliamentary caucus on freedom of religion or belief within the Bangladesh Parliament.
Kayser Kamal said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony, where people of all faiths celebrate their religious festivals in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere.
He said, “There is no division between minorities and majorities for us. The Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to practise their religion and equal rights. People of all religions and beliefs are equal citizens of this country.”
The deputy speaker said parliamentarians had an important role to play in upholding religious harmony, mutual respect and tolerance.
He called the proposed parliamentary caucus a constructive initiative that could enable issue‑based discussions, allow MPs to share experiences, and support the formulation of policy.
He said the initiative could further strengthen mutual respect and religious harmony among people and help build a more tolerant society.
Kayser Kamal said that the current parliament is giving importance to the views and voices of all lawmakers, describing this as an important practice that had not been adequately observed in the past.
Reflecting different opinions and perspectives in parliament would enrich democratic practices, he said.
He said the goal is to build a Bangladesh in which every person can live in peace, freely hold and practice their religious beliefs and ideologies, and enjoy equal protection of their rights and dignity.
Representatives from both sides said they hope to deepen parliamentary cooperation on freedom of religion or belief, human rights, mutual respect, tolerance and social harmony.
The meeting also discussed expanding cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in parliamentary affairs, good governance and social development.
British High Commission Governance Adviser Shahnaz Karim and Social Development Adviser Tahera Jabin attended the meeting, together with FORB Project National Coordinator Ruhi Naz and Senior Programme Manager Shashanka Baran Roy, alongside officials of the Parliament Secretariat.
Why it matters
The proposal highlights international engagement on religious freedom in Bangladesh and the government's stated commitment to communal harmony and constitutional equality.