Rangamati has hosted its first-ever National Kathin Chibardan, a major Buddhist religious event, with great spiritual significance. The two-day festival was organised at Milan Bihar in Rangapani area, supported by the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust.
The event was inaugurated by Dr A.F.M. Khaled Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, while retired Ambassador Supradip Chakma, Adviser to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, attended as the chief guest.
Speaking at the event, Supradip Chakma said that with the support of the interim government, this is the first time a united Kathin Chibardan has been held in Rangamati for Buddhists across Bangladesh. He expressed hope that the festival would continue in future. He also urged the government to declare Prabarana Purnima, an important Buddhist festival, as a national holiday.
Dr Khaled Hossain called for unity in diversity, stating that Bangladesh is home to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and many ethnic groups. “This diversity is our beauty,” he said. “Communalism cannot bring peace. We must all be tolerant and ensure equality for every religion and community.”
Other speakers included Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Kajal Talukdar, BNP Central Assistant Secretary for Religious Affairs Dipen Dewan, and leaders from the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust.
More than 300 Buddhist monks from across the country took part, including from Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Dhaka, Cumilla, Barguna and Patuakhali, along with 16 monastic groups from the Hill Tracts.
The event concluded on Saturday evening with candle lighting and the release of sky lanterns, marking a memorable moment of peace and harmony between hill and plain Buddhist communities.
