Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

poor people of bangladesh

We arrived in Dhaka after Vassula's mission in India was accomplished. Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, whose Muslim influence is reflected in the more than 700 mosques and historic buildings found throughout the city. This busy and colorful city has a huge population of 12.5 million people, predominantly Muslim, with Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian minorities. I could feel Vassula's eagerness to be in Bangladesh once again, this is where she lived when True Life in God started 20 years ago, on November 28, 1985. She had come to visit the Beth Myriam, the first TLIG school to be opened in the world, and pay a call to her friend, the Ven. Suddhananda Mahathero at the Dhammarajika Monastery and Orphanage, as the Ven. Buddhist Monk was ailing and weak. True Life in God's Beth Myriam Project was launched after Vassula was given a vision in the Holy Land back in 1998. In August of the following year, Vassula was invited to witness in Dhaka, accompanied by Catarina. The Holy Spirit's inspiration for the Beth Myriam in Dhaka came in the form of a question from Vassula to Catarina: "when will you open a Beth Myriam in Dhaka?" Carol Chamberlain, who had been assigned to Bangladesh 3 years earlier, was then called to establish the local contacts, and with Catarina and the precious help of Duleep, the first Beth Myriam was born on the 10th of December 1999. Today, 100 meals a day are prepared to feed the poor. Catarina and Duleep are helped by the caregivers, devoted souls offering an oasis of peace and love from Our Lady and Jesus. The Beth Myriam caregivers encourage their guests to say their own prayers of thanksgiving before meals. There is no mistaking it is Our Blessed Mother's House by the many holy images and icons decorating the walls. Underneath Our Lady's icon in the dining room is an inscription: "Jesus and Mary are offering this meal to you." Visit to Beth Myriam Dhaka This Beth Myriam has been functioning every single day since it opened. The humble people were overjoyed to express their thanks to their special visitor. It is run very efficiently with meal cards distributed to the families, and the nutritious food is served according to a Menu Schedule that Carol had put together back in 1999 and posted in the kitchen. During Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting, this Beth Myriam prepares special lunch boxes for the people to take home and eat after they break their fast. Care is always taken to respect other religious traditions; the objective is to give food, clothing, education and medical assistance to all God's children in need, regardless of belief and practice. Four times a week, the Beth Myriam hosts an hour-long Bangla school-class teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic to 25-30 children from the slums, aging from 5-12 years of age. At the same time, an English class for the children is also offered. True Life in God readers are encouraged to experience life in a Beth Myriam, two clean rooms are available here for those interested to go to Bangladesh to visit or help out. A day in Kulun Village, to see the True Life in God School About an hour's drive from Dhaka, one reaches the river crossing point to Kulun Village, which is one of 5 Christian villages in the area. The whole village and the parish priest from the nearest Catholic Mission were on hand to welcome and thank Vassula. We were accompanied by Fr. Waseem Walter, Catarina and Duleep. The children of Kulun had to walk long distances to go to school a few years ago, discouraging many parents from giving their children an education. The Lord inspired one of the villagers to request Catarina and Duleep to offer the village children the facility to learn by building a school for the little ones. The request was granted, donations were given for its construction and the school furnishings. TLIG Bangladesh sees to the salaries of the teachers and the maintenance of the school. In this Christian village, the teachers read the True Life in God Messages to the children once a week. A very generous donation was made by a devoted reader of the TLIG Messages, and inspired our friends in Bangladesh to build an extension to the initial building. Vassula's visit was a good opportunity to set the foundation stone for this extension. Taking the trowel with some cement, Vassula laid the first bricks for the foundation of this continuing act of charity. Vassula's mission in Bangladesh was to observe and document Beth Myriam Dhaka. She was happy to see the cleanliness and the quality of the food served, and most of all the grateful and joyful smiles of adults and children in their Blessed Mother's Home. This Beth Myriam has been functioning every single day since it opened. The humble people were overjoyed to express their thanks to their special visitor. It is run very efficiently with meal cards distributed to the families, and the nutritious food is served according to a Menu Schedule that Carol had put together back in 1999 and posted in the kitchen. During Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting, this Beth Myriam prepares special lunch boxes for the people to take home and eat after they break their fast. Care is always taken to respect other religious traditions; the objective is to give food, clothing, education and medical assistance to all God's children in need, regardless of belief and practice. Four times a week, the Beth Myriam hosts an hour-long Bangla school-class teaching the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic to 25-30 children from the slums, aging from 5-12 years of age. At the same time, an English class for the children is also offered. True Life in God readers are encouraged to experience life in a Beth Myriam, two clean rooms are available here for those interested to go to Bangladesh to visit or help out. The Lord goes slowly and quietly, bringing His people back to him. Simple efforts inspired by the Messages bring about so many blessings to God's people. Acts of love such as these are the sublime expression of God's Love in us. May God bless the good work of TLIG Bangladesh. We were graciously received by the Orphanage administration members and the Venerable Suddhananda Mahathero, who is the Chief Monk, President of the Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha Monastery and also Vassula's old friend. One can feel a special relationship of gentleness and deep respect between Vassula and the Ven. Suddhananda. Their conversation revolved around Pilgrimage 2005 which unfortunately the Ven. Suddhananda was unable to attend due to last minute health problems. They discussed matters on the situation in the world today threatening to draw God's Justice upon us. She indicated to him that the NY towers and the Tsunami disasters were prophesied in the Messages and have come to pass, and that the Lord has warned us of another much graver event to happen. Vassula requested the Ven. Suddhananda and his monks offer their prayers and fasting for the world to return to spiritual values. The TLIG International Beth Myriam Fund continues to support the Dhammarajika Buddhist Orphanage in Dhaka, an act of love that binds us to our Buddhist brothers. Our short stay in Bangladesh was fruitful and filled with graces to see True Life in God so alive ... after all, this is where it was born 20 years ago. BACKGROUND Vassula Rydén who is Greek, born in Egypt, belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. God approached her back in 1985 while she lived in Bangladesh in a most extraordinary way to use her as His instrument and charge her with His messages for all mankind. In truth it is a reminder of His Word. In these messages for our times, God is calling us to repentance, reconciliation, peace and unity. In the very beginning of God's intervention she was totally confused and feared she was being deluded; this uncertainty was truly her biggest cross, since she never heard in her life before that God can indeed express Himself to people in our own times. Because of this she feared and tried to fight her experience away, but instead of diminishing, God approached her even more intensively. As the sacred communication progressed there was perceptible change as Vassula grew in faith, knowledge and love of God. Her need to seek reassurance lessened, she became more comfortable in this unusual role which in turn allowed fuller statements from her divine visitor. The principle motive throughout is the divine love of Jesus expressed in the bridal terms, characteristic of mysticism, but manifested as an effulgence, an outpouring of the ineffable love of Christ. The fact that Vassula, without ever having received any catechetical instruction, let alone theological formation, is able to write about such profound spiritual matters without committing any errors, is itself a powerful confirmation of the authenticity of her messages. Since 1988 Vassula has been invited to speak in more than 60 countries and has given over 800 presentations. Vassula receives in all of this work no personal royalties, fees or benefit for her efforts. So far the books have been translated into more than 40 languages. They are written in such a clear and direct language that anyone of reading age can understand them. At the same time their content is so rich and profound that brilliant theologians have been inspired to write books about the spirituality of the messages. God himself has chosen to name these divine messages: True life in God. Wherever she is invited, whether in Asia, the Americas, Australia, Africa or Europe, she is welcomed by crowds of people of all ages from every imaginable social class and milieu, both Christian and non-Christian. Among those who come to hear her testimony are not only lay people, but also their spiritual leaders and hierarchy. Also other religions, like the Israeli Jews invited her, as well as the Buddhist monks of Hiroshima and of Bangladesh to give her testimony. The attendance of her meetings has reached up to 400,000 people and among them, in some countries there could be Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews. She was invited on three occasions to speak on unity in the World Council of Churches of Geneva and once in Romania in Iasi at a meeting called : "Unity and renewal, consultation and Christian spirituality for our times." In 1998 and 2001 the United Nations in New York, a section based on Peace in the World, working specifically between Jews and Palestinians, invited Vassula to address them and repeat what our Lord says to us in the messages to obtain peace in the world. In 2001 she was invited among other speakers by the International Bridgettine Centre of Farfa to speak on Ecumenism and Spirituality. Since May 2002, Vassula was invited to inter-religious meetings to give her testimony. The first one was held in Dhaka where the opening was done by a Muslim Imam. After that she was invited by the Archbishop of Taipei Joseph Ti-Kan to give her speech to non-Christians. Vassula's speeches on reconciliation and unity started to be known and appreciated among non-Christian. In February 2003 she was invited by the Venerable Suddhananda in his monastery in Dhaka to honour her with the Peace Gold Award for her efforts of propagating peace in the world. She was nominated for this peace award by the Buddhist monks as a distinguished personality in recognition of her great contribution and her efforts for establishing inter-religious harmony and promoting world Peace among all peoples and faiths. The function was inaugurated by Rev. Michael Rozario, Archbishop of the Catholic church in Dhaka. Among other guests was the Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio in Dhaka, as well as Muslim Professors from various regions of Bangladesh and from the four major religions, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. In Scriptures it is written that faith without good works is quite dead. The fruits of True Life in God are not only the conversion of the heart but the good works the readers have begun. After experiencing our Lady in a vision, Vassula was asked by her to feed the poor as well, for spiritual food was not enough. Since then, many houses called Beth Miriam (house of Mary) started to function from the friends of the messages to feed the poor. Those houses are progressing to have schooling as well for the poor children. There are now many worldwide -- in Egypt, Bangladesh, the Holy Land, multiple in the Philippines, Venezuela and Brazil, an orphanage in Kenya and help is given as well to 600 Buddhist orphans in Dhaka.

Monday, November 17, 2014

HISTORY OF BANGLADESH

Modern Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation in 1971 after achieving independence from Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The country constitutes with the major portion of the ancient and historic region of Bengal in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, where civilization dates back over four millennia, to the Copper Age. The history of the region is closely intertwined with the history of Bengal and the history of India. The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. Islam made its appearance during the 8th century when Sufi missionaries arrived. Later, Muslim rulers reinforced the process of conversion by building mosques, madrassas and Sufi Khanqah. The borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal and India in August 1947, when the region became East Pakistan as a part of the newly formed State of Pakistan following the Radcliffe Line.[1] However, it was separated from West Pakistan by 1,600 km (994 mi) of Indian territory. Due to political exclusion, ethnic and linguistic discrimination, as well as economic neglect by the politically dominant westerin-wing, popular agitation and civil disobedience led to the war of independence in 1971. After independence, the new state endured famine, natural disasters and widespread poverty, as well as political turmoil and military coups. The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative calm and economic progress.

coxz bazar

The southern Chittagong area, including Cox's Bazar, was under the rule of Arakan kings from the early ninth century until its conquest by the Mughals in 1666 AD.[6] When the Mughal Prince Shah Shuja was passing through the hilly terrain of the present-day Cox's Bazar on his way to Arakan, he was attracted to its scenic and captivating beauty. He commanded his forces to camp there. His retinue of one thousand palanquins stopped there for some time. A place named Dulahazara, meaning "one thousand palanquins", still exists in the area. After the Mughals, the place came under the control of the Tipras and the Arakanese, followed by the Portuguese and then the British. The name Cox's Bazar originated from the name of a British East India Company officer, Captain Hiram Cox, who was appointed as the Superintendent of Palonki (today's Cox's Bazar) outpost. He succeeded Warren Hastings, who became the Governor of Bengal after the British East India Company Act in 1773. Cox was mobilised to deal with a century-long conflict between Arakan refugees and local Rakhine people at Palonki. The Captain had rehabilitated many refugees in the area but died in 1799 before he could finish his work. To commemorate that, a market was established and named after him, called Cox's Bazar (market of Cox). Cox's Bazar then was first established in 1854 and became a municipality in 1869.[6] After the Sepoy Mutiny (Indian Rebellion of 1857) in 1857, the British East India Company was highly criticised and questioned on humanitarian grounds, especially for its opium trade monopoly over the Indian Sub-Continent. However, after its dissolution on 1 January 1874, all of the company's assets including its Armed Forces were acquired by the British Crown. After this historic takeover, Cox's Bazar was declared a district of the Bengal Province under the British Crown. Cox's Bazar Map from Series U542, U.S. Army Map Service, 1955 After the end of British rule in 1947, Cox's Bazar became part of East Pakistan. Captain Advocate Fazlul Karim, the first Chairman (after independence from the British) of Cox's Baazar Municipality, established the Tamarisk Forest along the beach. He wanted to attract tourists as well as to protect the beach from tidal waves (tsunami). He donated much of his father-in-law's and his own lands as sites for constructing a Public Library and a Town Hall. He was inspired to build Cox's Baazar as a tourist spot after seeing beaches of Bombay and Karachi, and was a resort pioneer in developing Cox's Bazar as a destination. He founded a Maternity Hospital, the Stadium and the drainage system by procuring grants from the Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation through correspondence. T. H. Matthews, the principal of the Dacca Engineering College (1949~1954), was a friend who had helped him in these fundraising efforts. Engineer Chandi Charan Das was the government civil engineer who had worked on all these projects. In 1959 the municipality was turned into a town committee.[6] In 1961 the erstwhile Geological Survey of Pakistan initiated investigation of radioactive minerals like monazite around the Cox's Bazar sea-beach area.[7] Cox's Bazar Bus Terminal In 1971, Cox's Bazar wharf was used as a naval port by the Pakistan Navy's gunboats. This and the nearby airstrip of the Pakistan Air Force were the scene of intense shelling by the Indian Navy during the Bangladesh Liberation War. During the war, Pakistani soldiers killed many people in the town, including eminent lawyer Jnanendralal Chowdhury. The killing of two freedom fighters named Farhad and Subhash at Badar Mokam area is also recorded in history.[8] After the independence of Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar started to get administrative attention. In 1972 the town committee of Cox's Bazar was turned into a municipality. In 1975, The Government of Bangladesh established a pilot plant at Kalatali.[7] Later, in 1984 Cox's Bazar subdivision was promoted to a district, and five years later (in 1989) the Cox's Bazar municipality was elevated to B-grade.[6] In 1994 (jobs) the Marine Fisheries and Technology Station (MFTS) was established at Cox's Bazar. MFTS is a research station of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) headquartered in Mymensingh. The station covers a land area of four hectares and contains five laboratories.[9] In April 2007 Bangladesh got connected to the submarine cable network as a member of the SEA-ME-WE 4 Consortium, as Cox's Bazar was selected as the landing station of the submarine cable.[10] In September 2012 the municipality was the site of the Cox's Bazar and Ramu riots, where local Muslims attacked the Buddhist community over an alleged Quran desecration posted to Facebook.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh /bɑːŋlɑːdɛʃ/Listeni/ˌbæŋɡləˈdæʃ/ (বাংলাদেশpronounced: [ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ] ( )lit. "The land of Bengal"), officially thePeople's Republic of Bangladesh (গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ Gônôprôjatôntri Bangladesh), is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India to its west, north and east; Burma to its southeast and separated from Nepal and Bhutan by the Chicken’s Neckcorridor. To its south, it faces the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is the world's eighth-most populous country, with over 160 million people, and among the most densely populated countries. It forms part of the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal, along with the neighbouring Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura.
The present-day borders of Bangladesh took shape during the Partition of Bengal and British India in 1947, when the regionused to be known as East Pakistan, as a part of the newly formed state of Pakistan. It was separated from West Pakistan by 1,400 km of Indian territory. Due to political exclusion, ethnic and linguistic discrimination and economic neglect by the politically dominant western wing, nationalism, popular agitation and civil disobedience led to the Bangladesh Liberation War and independence in 1971. After independence, the new state endured poverty, famine, political turmoil and military coups. Therestoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative calm and economic progress. In 2014, the Bangladeshi general election was boycotted by major opposition parties, resulting in a parliament and government dominated by the Awami Leagueand its smaller coalition partners.
Bangladesh is a unitary parliamentary republic with an elected parliament called the Jatiyo Sangshad. The native Bengalis form the country's largest ethnic group, along with indigenous peoples in northern and southeastern districts. Geographically, the country is dominated by the fertile Bengal delta, the world's largest delta. This also gives Bangladesh a unique name tag "The land of rivers".
Bangladesh is identified as a Next Eleven country which has an economy larger than of countries like VietnamSwitzerland,SingaporeSwedenQatar etc.[9] It has achieved significant strides in human and social development since independence, including in progress in gender equity, universal primary education, food production, health and population control.[10][11][12]However, Bangladesh continues to face numerous political, economic, social and environmental challenges, including political instabilitycorruptionpoverty, overpopulation and climate change.
Bangladesh is a founding member of SAARC, the Developing 8 Countries and BIMSTEC. It contributes one of the largestpeacekeeping forces to the United Nations. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement.        \