By Richard Jones Friday, March 17 is a special day worldwide, but Bangladesh is luckier than most! Not only is it the birthday of national foremost hero and Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, but also it’s St.…
Category: Words of faith
The United Nations and the Religious Right
Religious advocacy groups have a long history of working with the United Nations, pushing back against progressive interpretations of the terms ‘family’ and ‘marriage’ as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That effort was seemingly rewarded in 2016…
Anti-Muslim hate groups nearly triple in US since last year, report finds
The number of organized anti-Muslim hate groups in America nearly tripled last year, from 34 to more than 100, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, a left-leaning non-profit that tracks extremist groups. The center credited…
Development should consider indigenous cultures: Pope Francis
Rome, 15 February – In a private meeting with indigenous peoples’ representatives, Pope Francis stressed the need to reconcile development, both social and cultural, with the protection of indigenous peoples and their territories, “especially when planning economic activities that may…
PM urges Islamic scholars to prevent Islam’s misinterpretation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated her call to Islamic scholars, imams and teachers, to prevent the misinterpretation of Islam and widely publicise that Islam does not believe in terrorism, militancy and killing people. “It’s my fervent call to…
US Court questions whether travel ban is anti-Muslim
An appeals court has questioned whether President Donald Trump’s travel ban discriminates against Muslims. The executive order temporarily banned entry for all refugees and visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries, until it was halted last week.
Five confirmed dead in Quebec City mosque shooting
At least five people have been killed in a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada.
Burma: Release or Charge Kachin Christians
Burmese authorities should immediately release or appropriately charge two ethnic Kachin Baptist leaders arbitrarily detained by the military since December 24, 2016, Human Rights Watch and Fortify Rights said today. The military in Northern Shan State should urgently transfer Langjaw…
Biswa Ijtema second phase ends
Dhaka, 22 Jan – The second phase of the 52nd Biswa Ijtema concluded on Sunday with the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers) seeking spiritual well-being and welfare of the Muslim community. The Munajat started at 11.12 am and continued till 11:45…
Akheri Munajat of 2nd phase Ijtema at 11am
Dhaka – Second phase of the 52nd Biswa Ijtema will end today (Sunday) with the offering of Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers).The Munajat will start around 11.00 am, said superintendent of Gazipur police Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid.Mawlana Mohammad Saad of Delhi will conduct…
Palestinian President likely to arrive next month
Dhaka – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is likely to arrive here on a three-day state visit next month to advance the ‘special relations’ with Bangladesh.
OIC emergency meeting in KL to take genuine steps to end Rohingya crisis
Dhaka – The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will discuss “genuine steps” on Thursday that the OIC and the international community should take to address the Rohingya issue. UNB news agency reported
1st phase Biswa Ijtema ends
First phase of the 52nd Biswa Ijtema cncluded on Sunday with the Akheri Munajat (concluding prayers) seeking spiritual well-being and welfare of the Muslim community.The Munajat started at 11.00 am and continued till 11:30 am, said superintendent of Gazipur police…
Biswa Ijtema of Tablig Jamaat begins at Dhaka’s Tongi
Gazipur, Jan 13 (UNB) – The first phase of a three-day Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after hajj, began on Friday on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi on the outskirts of the capital…
Tablig Jamaat Biswa Ijtemia Friday
Dhaka, Jan 12 -The government has planned stringent security measures ahead of the two phases Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslim community after the holly hajj, scheduled to be held in two phases from January 13-15 and…
Monk critical after setting himself on fire over sex slavery
Seoul, Jan 8 (AP/UNB) — A South Korean Buddhist monk is in critical condition after setting himself on fire to protest the country’s settlement with Japan on compensation for wartime sex slaves, officials said Sunday. The 64-year-old monk suffered third-degree…
50 sued over Gopalganj Hindu idol vandalism
Gopalganj – A case was filed against 50 people in connection with the vandalism of 20 idols of three temples in Jamai Bazar Dhumuria area of Tungipara upazila.
Tablig Biswa Ijtima 1st phase from Jan 13
Dhaka – The Bishwa Ijtem, second largest world Muslim’s congregation after the holy Hajj is going to be held on January 13 in 2017 at the bank of river Turag at Tongi in Gazipur city. It will be held with…
98 Hindus killed 209 idols ransacked this year: Hindu Jote
Dhaka – Ninety-eight members of the Hindu community were killed and 357 others injured across the country till December 29 this year, says a report prepared by Bangladesh Jatiyo Hindu Mohajote (BJHM).
Merry Christmas observed
Dhaka – Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated across the country on Sunday. The day is the celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and human beings.
XMmas celebrated in Rangpur
Dhaka – Christmas, the biggest religious festival of Christians, was celebrated amid tight security and due religious festivity in Rangpur today.The daylong celebration programmes included morning prayers, recitation from the holy Bible, carol singing, exchanging pleasantries, cutting Christmas cakes, decoration…
Pope Francis: Christmas ‘hostage to materialism’
Pope Francis has said that the true meaning of Christmas is being drowned out by materialism. During a high-security Christmas Mass at the Vatican, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also denounced the continuing suffering of children.
Christmas Sunday
Dhaka – The Christian community celebrates Christmas Day in Bangladesh tomorrow commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ as elsewhere in the world.
Obama shuts down Muslim registry
The Obama administration has moved to shut down the Department of Homeland Security’s Muslim national registry program, a vestige of post-9/11 policy that’s been sitting on the books since 2002 but unused in the past five years. It’s the same…
Indonesian FM to visit Rohingyas at Ukhia Tuesday
Dhaka – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi will visit Ukhia upazila of the Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday morning to witness the Rohingya situation over there.
UK Muslims press for peace at 10 Downing Street
Engagement2030 campaign in more than 125 locations worldwide aims to dispel myths and build interfaith understanding. Tasnim Nazeer London, United Kingdom – In an attempt to promote peace and dispel stereotypes surrounding Islam, a group of British Muslims visited 10…
Eid-e-Miladunnabi Tuesday
Dhaka – The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), is being observed in Bangladesh as elswehere in the world on Tuesday with religious solemnity and fervour. On this day in 570, the 12th of Rabiul Awal of…
Eid-e-Miladunnabi Tuesday
Dhaka – The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), will be observed in the country on Tuesday with due religious solemnity.
Bomb kills 25 at Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral
Cairo (AP/UNB) – Sunday morning Mass was drawing to a close at the chapel next to St. Mark’s Cathedral, the seat of Egypt’s ancient Coptic Orthodox Church, when Magdy Ramzy said there suddenly was a “shattering explosion like nothing I…
Cairo bombing: Cairo Coptic Christian complex hit
A bomb explosion in the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in the Egyptian capital Cairo has killed at least 25 people, officials say.Dozens of others were injured in the blast in a chapel adjoining St Mark’s cathedral during a Sunday service.Many…