On March 8, HWPL organized the Chittagong Buddhist Peace Academy – Special Prayer Meeting for World Peace and Harmony at Kadhurkhil Marjin Buddhist Temple in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Co-organized by the Jibon Shikha Foundation, the event brought together around 2,000 participants—including Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu community leaders as well as local citizens—to share messages calling for an end to war and to promote interfaith harmony.

Bangladesh is a multi-religious society where Islam (91%), Hinduism (approximately 8%), and minority religions including Buddhism and Christianity coexist. Amid rising reports of violence against religious minorities, HWPL has continued its Religious Peace Academy (RPA) activities alongside Buddhist religious leaders in Bangladesh to promote interfaith understanding and dialogue.

The event aimed to foster a shared commitment to world peace through interfaith harmony and to spread the message of “No War, We Want Peace” among local citizens. It also served as an occasion to put the values of peace into practice through support for vulnerable community members during the Ramadan season.

During Ramadan in Bangladesh, it is customary for those who are more well-off to share food and daily necessities with those in need. In keeping with this spirit of giving, the event included the distribution of essential goods—such as cooking oil, rice, and sugar—to vulnerable community members in the region.

The program featured an opening address, lectures by Buddhist leaders, an interfaith joint prayer, the reading of the “No War, We Want Peace” message accompanied by a 1,000-candle lighting ceremony, and the distribution of Ramadan relief packages.

Venerable Dipananda Mahathero, Principal of Karunashil Marajin Vihar, led the proceedings, while Venerable Dr. Sanghapriya Mahathero, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Sangharaj Bhikkhu Mahasabha, served as presiding monk. Members of Parliament Mr. Arafat Ullah (Chattogram-8) and Mr. Abu Sufiyan (Chattogram-9) attended as chief guests.

Venerable Dipananda Mahathero said he has always loved praying for world peace and finds deep fulfillment in dedicating himself to humanity’s well-being, adding that his sincere wish is for all people in the world to live together in harmony, compassion, and love within a peaceful society.

Venerable Dr. Sanghapriya Mahathero emphasized that conflicts and wars continue in many parts of the world, posing a serious threat to humanity. He stated his belief that killing people and destroying nations are violations of human rights, and expressed his sincere hope that wars would end and that all people would come forward to help establish lasting peace. He also wished to underscore that HWPL is playing an important role globally in advancing peace, interfaith harmony, and human welfare.

Venerable Pinto Barua, Secretary of Karunashil Marajin Vihar, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to stand alongside HWPL during the program. He noted that Venerable Dipananda Mahathero had made an extraordinary contribution to the event’s success and that he feels truly fortunate to work by his side. As a devoted disciple of Venerable Dipananda Mahathero, he pledged to always stand by him and remain steadfastly involved in the work of HWPL.

The event offered an opportunity to deepen interfaith understanding and cooperation among approximately 2,000 participants. HWPL plans to continue working with religious leaders to progressively expand interfaith peace education and exchange activities in Chattogram.