Christmas celebrated under heavy security

Rev. Paulinus Costa, Archbishop of Dhaka talks with a personnel from the elite Rapid Action Battalion force at the St. Mary's Cathedral in Dhaka on Dec. 25, 2009. (PhotoDipal Barua)

People in Bangladesh celebrated Christmas under heavy security. The Rev. Paulinus Costa, Archbishop of Dhaka, said that devotees were concerned about attacks on churches and could not pray in peace. Security officials were seen guarding churches for fear of bomb attacks.

A police official said that more than 12,000 security officials from various agencies were deployed at more than 700 churches all over the country. About 5,100 personnel from the Rapid Action Battalion and officials from various intelligence agencies including the National Security Intelligence and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence were on alert against possible attacks on churches by Islamic extremist groups.

Costa said that the Christian community did not have any enemies nor was it anyone's enemy. Muslims are our friends and brothers, we do pray for them and they are our neighbors. It is my apostolic duty to love my neighbor with my full heart as I do so and teach the Church, he said.

Costa said that this Christmas, they donated more than 5 million takas (US$72,000) mainly to Muslims and people of different religions to share the joy of the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. He explained that Christ did not come to the world only for Christians but for all people. But many non-Christians did not come to the Church as they were discouraged by the heavy security and the fear of terrorist attacks. So, the joy and message of Christmas that was preached was limited to Christians.

The Church also helped the formerly conjoined Bangladeshi twin's Krishna and Trishna who hail from a poor Hindu family and are now safe and enjoying Christmas, Costa said. Archbishop Philip Wilson of Australia called them an inspiration. The work of the Bangladesh Church is a fitting example of Christ's love for our neighbors.

Costa said that on Christmas Eve he met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and wished her Christmas greetings. I told her that when she was in exile, we were praying for her safety and for her work, he said.

Costa shared with Hasina his views on the common commitments to enhance the spirit of cooperation, which has characterized the cordial relations between the Holy See and Bangladesh for over thirty years and hoped that it will help the people to understand the message of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI had shared his concern about the nation when receiving Abdul Hannan, the new ambassador from Bangladesh to the Holy See, Costa said.

Angela Gomes a catholic social activist who won the Magsaysay Award in 1999 for community leadership, in an interview with Asia News said that she shared the joy of Christmas with poor Muslim and Hindu children. They were more than 100 orphan children and I sang Christmas songs, shared Christmas gifts and fed more than 400 poor people with the money that I had saved for the whole year, she said. Christ inspires my work for the people and Christ gives me notice that I need to live and love others. I have some how shared the joy of Christmas with 20,000 women in at least 400 villages, she added.

Costa also said that he held a special prayer for the persecuted Orissa Christians in neighboring India. I hope they will able to set the example of forgiveness and continue to share Christ's message of love. From the Christmas Eve of 2007, when they were attacked, to the present day, I still continue to pray for them, he said.

Bangladesh's state minister for Cultural Affairs, Promod Mankin who is the only catholic Christian member of the indigenous group Mandi or Garo said that the government wants to build a nation free from anarchy and hunger and believes in a state that is free from injustice.

As a Christian I want to work for a country where people can live together in peace and happiness. I will work till death for the betterment of the country to witness Christ, he said.

William Nicholas Gomes is a human rights activist and freelance journalist. He can be reached at E-mail:[email protected]

Development / Accra / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com

Rev. Paulinus Costa, Archbishop of Dhaka talks with a personnel from the elite Rapid Action Battalion force at the St. Mary's Cathedral in Dhaka on Dec. 25, 2009. (PhotoDipal Barua)

William Gomes (R) interviews the Archbishop of Dhaka Rev. Paulinus Costa at the St. Mary's Cathedral in Dhaka on Dec. 25, 2009. (PhotoDipal Barua)

Originating at nicholasgomes.wordpress.com