Special Report:
The month-long biggest event of the Buddhist community in three hill districts of Bangladesh is not being held this time. The event was scheduled to take place from October 17 to November 15. For the first time in the history of Bangladesh, the event has been canceled in the hill areas. The decision was taken jointly by 15 organisations of Bhante. Some of these organizations have agreed to this decision despite their differences and disputes among themselves.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Sammilita Bhikkhu Sangha has announced not to celebrate ‘Kathin Chiba rdan’, the main religious festival of the Buddhist community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban) this year due to the prevailing situation and insecurity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The announcement was made at the Deshnalaya (Religious Advice Room) of Maitri Buddhist Vihara in Rangamati town on Sunday afternoon. Chittagong Hill Tracts Sammilita Bhikkhu Sangha President Shraddhalankar Mahather read out a written statement at a press conference organized by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Sammilita Bhikkhu Sangha around 1:30 pm.
At the press conference, it was alleged that none of the communal attacks that have taken place so far have been prosecuted. There is no confidence in the administration and the Buddhist society and the monks are worried. Due to such insecurity and uncertainty, the president of the Hill Bhikkhu Sangha, Shraddhankar Mahathera, announced that all the monasteries of the Chittagong Hill Tracts will not be given a Kathin Chibar dan.
In a written statement at the press conference, Shraddhalankar Mahather said that more than 100 shops were vandalized, looted and set on fire in communal violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati from September 18 to 20 and October 1 in which four hillmen were killed. During this time, Buddha statues were vandalized in various Buddhist temples and donation boxes were looted.
The next day, Monday, October 7, with Bhante representatives
The district administration was supposed to discuss the matter. But it is known that no Buddhist religious leader participated in that discussion.
Until the writing of this report on October 26, there was no celebration of Kahin Chibardan anywhere in the three hill districts of Bangladesh.
(Note:The Buddhist community presents handwoven cloth to all the religious leaders of the local temple according to their convenience within a month of the Kathin Chibar dan ceremony.The prerequisite for this ritual is to take out the yarn from the cotton within a day and prepare the cloth. This religious ritual has been observed since the time of Lord Buddha. )