Inception Seminar and Workshop
On 23 November 2025, the Department of World Religions and Culture (WRC), University of Dhaka, organized the Inception Seminar and Workshop of its HEAT sub-project titled “Interreligious Dialogue, Resilience Building and Countering Violent Extremism” at the Faculty of Arts Auditorium. Academics, think tanks, Officials of Bangladesh Police, journalists, NGO officials, Officials from the UNDP attended the program.
The programme began with a welcome address by Dr. Eva Sadia Saad, Associate Professor, who greeted participants and highlighted WRC’s long-standing commitment to promoting peace, understanding, and interfaith harmony.
Dean Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan inaugurated the program. He welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude for their engagement. He noted that although WRC is one of the newer departments within the Faculty of Arts, its research initiatives and international collaborations have positioned it as a rising academic contributor. He praised the efforts of the HEAT project team, emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration for building a peaceful society, and officially inaugurated the project, expressing hope that its outcomes would benefit both society and the nation. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, PhD was the Chief guest of the Inception seminar while the Dean of the Faculty of Arts conveyed the message of the chief guest.
Founding Chair Professor Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam reflected on the universal message of religion, stating that religion teaches love and enlightenment. In a world marked by conflict, he noted, individuals must understand their own faith while also learning about others with objectivity. He emphasized that it is the “weapon of love,” rather than violence, that can truly resolve human problems.
Dr. Md. Didarul Islam, SPM of the project, thanked the participants and presented an overview of the project’s core objectives as the keynote speaker.
DIG Muhammad Muslim, PPM (ATU, Bangladesh Police) highlighted the importance of interfaith dialogue, mutual respect, and collective initiatives to counter violent extremism. He also expressed that ATU will be delighted to build partnership with the project which will help everyone mutually.
Dr. Md. Abu Sayem, Chairman and Professor of WRC, discussed the crucial role of religion in establishing peace within society. He argued that we must ensure the teaching of love; not the hatred.
Following the inaugural speeches, Mr. Niloy Roy offered a vote of thanks and formally concluded the opening session.
The day-long workshop followed, moderated by Mr. Debashis Das, Lecturer and HEAT project member. The workshop featured interactive activities including mind mapping, group reflection, idea sharing, evaluation, and planning. These activities provided participants with a dynamic platform to exchange insights and contribute meaningfully to the project’s objectives.