Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on 27 October, 2015 called upon all Buddhist-populated countries to work together and prepare a roadmap for promoting tourism based Buddhist culture. ‘All the respected delegates of different countries will be able to prepare a roadmap for the development and promotion of tourism industry in the region and will come forward to implement such roadmap’, she hoped.
The Prime Minister inaugurated a high-profile international conference at Dhaka, capital city of Bangladesh, held 27-28 October, 2015. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry of Bangladesh in collaboration with the World Tourism Organisation organised the two-day conference on ‘Developing Sustainable and Inclusive Buddhist Heritage and Pilgrimage Circuits in South Asias Buddhist Heartland’.
The major objective of the conference is to prepare an action-based roadmap for the planning, development and marketing of sustainable and inclusive cross-border Buddhist tourism circuits and routes in South Asia after consultations among globally reputed Buddhist tourism experts and local tourism stakeholders.
" Ministers and high officials from 13 Buddhist-populated countries including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh took part in the event. "
Sheikh Hasina said ‘Bangladesh is a country with enormous potential for tourism. Our mind-blowing scenic beauty, cultural heritage, archaeological remains, artefacts, rich civilisation, especially the warmth in our people has the strength to attract tourists in our country.
I firmly believe that they will portray Bangladesh tourism in international forums as you would pursue a new path of mutual cooperation. I find the entire country as a vast terrain full of tourist attractions. The bounties of six seasons, wide expanse of alluvial plains, water apes, hillocks and valleys, villages under the canopy of trees and shrubs of this eternal land can amaze anyone’.
Buddhist conference at Dhaka held on 27-28 October. Why I’m writing about the Conference after so many days? I’ve requested from some readers of The Times of Israel to write about it. The readers that requested me to write are living in Canada, USA, India, Israel and some other countries. They have never visit Bangladesh. Perhaps that is why they have expressed interest to me to know the conference and learn about the history of the Buddhist life, Buddhism in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, being a melting pot of diverse culture and religions, has developed a tradition of showing reverence to all religions and culture. Bangladesh’s contribution to achieving harmony and tolerance among different religious and cultural groups throughout its history. Buddhism has played a distinctive role in this regard.
Historically and traditionally Bangladesh is a land of religious harmony and co-existence. Four major different religious followers such as Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian ruled this country at different periods in the past. Inter-community or inter-religious harmony and friendship is an inherent characteristic of this soil.
People of other religions are also living here with their dignity and social rights. State constitution also approves these rights. It is very mentionable that constitutionally Bangladesh is a secular state, though Islam is the ‘state religion’. In this circumstance the members of Buddhist community are leading their lives as other minority communities in this country.
Several historians, archaeologists and others have observed that Buddhism appeared in Bangladesh before the Common Era (CE), to be precise during the Mauryan Rule and accepted the presence of a Buddhist community in Bangladesh in about second century BCE on the basis of Mahasthan Brahmi Inscription of c. 2nd century BCE.
Of late this has been challenged (source- Journal of Bengal Art, Vol. I, 1996, pp. 33-38). Though the issue is still being debated, the story of Buddhism in Bangladesh can be safely narrated on the basis of various sources including archaeological findings.
No story of a religion can be completed without dwelling upon its proponent. The proponent of Buddhism was a Prince of Nepal turned into a Savior of Mankind. His principal concern was to save mankind from worldly sufferings and miseries.
At the time of his enlightenment, he was only 35 years old. For the next 45 years he preached his beliefs throughout the larger part of India. But his visit to Bangladesh, very close to his seat of activities cannot be confirmed by any yardstick of historical justification. Buddhism and Buddhist community flourished in Bangladesh certainly from the time of Emperor Asoka (BCE 268-231).
From the time of the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE), Buddhism took deep root in Bangladesh, and Buddhist communities increased tremendously in large areas of northern, southern and middle Bangladesh. But the glorious days of Buddhism began with the foundation of the Pala rule in Bangladesh. Gopala the founder of this dynasty was a Buddhist and after gaining power he ‘created a new social order based on justice and equality among all people’.
He established numbers of Buddhist ‘Viharas or monasteries’ all over the country, and these ‘Viharas’ soon became the centers not only of Buddhist learning but also of great academic and intellectual persuasion. Buddhism in Bangladesh has also produced eminent personalities and scholars. Bandana Mukhopadhyay highlights such great scholars as Silabhadra (c. 584-654) and Chandragomin (c. 7th century CE).
One of the most significant aspects of Buddhist Bangladesh was the patronage of the Emperors, Kings and devotees of the educational institutions and scholars. Kings professing different faiths also donated lands for Buddhist ‘Viharas’ and temples. Likewise the Buddhist Kings also made land grants for Hindu temples. These examples indicate the existence of a peaceful multi-religious society in ancient Bangladesh.
A large number of Seals and Sealings have been discovered from various sites like Paharpur Mahavihara and Salban Vihara in Comilla, Bangladesh. These seals and sealings throw light on many things like the names of ‘Vihara’ and their founders as well as on the social and economic life of the country.
Source : - timesofisraelBuddhism also led to the flourishing of the artistic genius of the people. In Bangladesh as elsewhere, it gave rise to a unique style of architecture in the form of Stupas, Shrines and Viharas. These monuments and structures not only mark them as distinct forms of architecture but they also show the skill of the contemporaries in designing and planning the monuments. Moreover, some of the features of these structures depict the contemporary life and society. ‘Viharas’ were basically built as residences for the Buddhist monks. However, the architectural style and designs were breathtaking.
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