Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) said, Atish Dipankar is a memorable name in East Asia and the world in the field of practicing and propagating Buddhism and philosophy. The Tibetans awarded him the title Atish, which means ‘peace’. He is a religious leader, teacher, scholar, writer, philosopher, debater and orator. As a son of Bangladesh, we are proud of the achievements and global fame of the scholar Atish Dipankar. His knowledge, philosophy, religious practice, work, and education need to be spread more widely across our country. Therefore, establishing an international standard university in the name of Atish Dipankar in his birthplace, Bangladesh, is the demand of the hour.
The Adviser made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the Kathir Chibar Daan ceremony organized by the Bodhigyan Kendra (Buddhist Monastery) in Ashulia, Dhaka district on Friday (October 10, 2025) evening.
The Adviser said that the basic principles of Buddhism are to establish peace by binding everyone with the bonds of non-violence, equality, friendship and love. The followers of Buddha are working towards that goal. He said that according to Buddha, people will be friendly; people will be forgiving and will also be free from greed and delusion. People will respect people and respect each other.
Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) said that the Panchashil of Buddhism is the five basic principles prescribed by the Buddha. These five principles are humanitarian and universal rights-based, which are good teachings for human life to be ethical. The advisor expressed optimism that through the acquisition and practice of these qualities, injustice, lawlessness, crime, and corruption will be stopped in society and the state.
The Home Affairs Adviser said that the current interim government is always committed to maintaining communal harmony. He said that the government has taken all measures to peacefully organize the month-long Katri Chibar Daan Karma from Ashwini Purnima to Kartiki Purnima in all Buddhist monasteries of the country.
Later, during a briefing for journalists, the Adviser said that all religions have been spreading the message of peace and harmony. He said that there is no religious division in our Bangladesh. Everyone is practicing their own religion peacefully and in coexistence. But a class of fascist intellectuals in our country always try to divert the issue into a different direction.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkodi, prominent businessman Dayal Kumar Barua, Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, prominent businessman Subhashish Chakma, Colonel Didarul Alam, and others spoke as special guests at the event.
