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Buddhist monks serve iftar for Muslims in Bangladesh

Monastery has been serving iftar meals to underprivileged Muslims during Ramadan for the past six years.

Sujan and Krishnapad Das help Buddhist monks to prepare iftar meals. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Sujan and Krishnapad Das help Buddhist monks to prepare iftar meals. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
By 
Mahmud Hossain Opu
25 Jun 2016
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Dhaka, Bangladesh – Every day during Ramadan, hundreds of Muslim men, women and children queue in front of a Buddhist monastery in the Bangladeshi capital to receive iftar, the food with which Muslims break their fast at sunset during the holy month.

The initiative by Dharmarajika Buddhist monastery to distribute food to poor and destitute Muslims is a rare example of social harmony between two groups from two different religions in a country that has witnessed a spate of fatal attacks against minorities and secular activists.

The Dharmarajika Buddhist monastery began this project six years ago, and monks say Ramadan is the best opportunity to help poor Muslims.

The high priest of the temple, Shuddhanando Mohathero, who initiated the project, believes that “humanity is the ultimate goal of humans”.


Bangladesh: Extremism and shrinking space for dissent


Abul Basahr, a shopkeeper living in the area, told Al Jazeera that monks at the Buddhist temple engaged in several social welfare activities. “The best thing they are doing is the distribution of iftar food to the poor people,” he said.

Established in 1951 in Basabo area of Dhaka, the monastery, monk Karuna Bhikkhu says, works for harmony in the society.

Karuna says it is an effort to build good relations with Muslim community, who form nearly 90 percent of the population. Buddhist comprise less than one percent of this nation of 160 million.

Harun Miah, the owner of a local restaurant, has been working with the monastery for past five years to cook iftar meals.

He says the iftar consisting of potato chops, peyaju (onion tempura), beguni (eggplant tempura), chhola-boot (lentils), khejur (dates), muri (puffed rice), and jilapi (a sweet made of sugar syrup) are served in a box.

Buddhapriya Mahathero, the second-high priest of the monastery, said at least 300 poor people are served daily.


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“The people start making queues from 3pm onwards inside the monastery,” he told Al Jazeera.

For people like Sakhina, who cannot afford an iftar, the free food at the monastery is a godsend gift.

“Here, we are granted respect that we were supposed to get from our co-religists,” she told Al Jazeera.

Despite a recent spike in violence in the South Asian nation, the monks say they are not worried about their safety and have a very good relation with the Muslim community.

Mahathero, a firm believer in inter-religious harmony said: “Why should there be a conflict? We are all Bangladeshis. This land is for all of us. By helping each other, we can make this country great.”

Mohammad Milon, centre, prepares iftar at the main shrine of Dhammarajika monastery. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Mohammad Milon, centre, prepares iftar at the main shrine of Dhammarajika monastery. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
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Iftar meals consists of potato chops, peyaju [onion tempura], beguni [eggplant tempura], chhola-boot [lentils], khejur [dates], muri [puffed rice], and jilapi [a sweet made of sugar syrup]. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Iftar meals consists of potato chops, peyaju [onion tempura], beguni [eggplant tempura], chhola-boot [lentils], khejur [dates], muri [puffed rice], and jilapi [a sweet made of sugar syrup]. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Dipananda Bhikkhu and Sujan put iftar items in boxes. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Dipananda Bhikkhu and Sujan put iftar items in boxes. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
The monastery was established in 1951 and is home to more than 700 orphans, who are imparted free education at the school located in the monastery premises. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
The monastery was established in 1951 and is home to more than 700 orphans, who are imparted free education at the school located in the monastery premises. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhists are less than one percent of Bangladeshi population, mostly residing in the country's southeastern districts bordering Myanmar. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhists are less than one percent of Bangladeshi population, mostly residing in the country's southeastern districts bordering Myanmar. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhist monks put packets of iftar meals on a table. Dhammarajika monastery is located near Kamalapur railway station in the Basabo area of Dhaka. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhist monks put packets of iftar meals on a table. Dhammarajika monastery is located near Kamalapur railway station in the Basabo area of Dhaka. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
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Underprivileged people come to the monastery to receive free iftar meals. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Underprivileged people come to the monastery to receive free iftar meals. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhists have generally enjoyed good relations with Muslims in the area around the temple. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhists have generally enjoyed good relations with Muslims in the area around the temple. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
The iftar plan was initiated by the High Priest of the Shuddhanando Mohathero temple . [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
The iftar plan was initiated by the High Priest of the Shuddhanando Mohathero temple . [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Outside the temple, long queues of poor people, mostly women, collect the iftar packets from the monks. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Outside the temple, long queues of poor people, mostly women, collect the iftar packets from the monks. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Mohammad Yasin, a young Islamic studies student, came to the monastery to collect iftar. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Mohammad Yasin, a young Islamic studies student, came to the monastery to collect iftar. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
The iftar distribution programme starts at 5:30pm local time everyday. Women and men have to stand in different queues. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
The iftar distribution programme starts at 5:30pm local time everyday. Women and men have to stand in different queues. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhapriya Mahathero, the second-high priest of the monastery, said that he did not support the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in neighbouring Myanmar. 'We don't support violent activities against them [Rohingya].' [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]
Buddhapriya Mahathero, the second-high priest of the monastery, said that he did not support the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in neighbouring Myanmar. 'We don't support violent activities against them [Rohingya].' [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

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