Bangladesh administration decided not to hold buddhist festivals in chittagong hill this year

This time, Dhaka: The cloth worn by Buddhist monks is called 'cheebra'. The custom of donating the cloth (cheebar) to the Buddhist monks after completing the weaving, sewing and dyeing of the cloth within 24 hours is a long-standing tradition. For a month, this 'Cheebar Dan' festival is observed continuously in about 200 Buddhist monasteries of Chittagong Hill Tracts. This event lasts from Ashwini Purnima to Kartiki Purnima. But this time it has been decided not to celebrate it, the representatives of 15 Buddhist monks said in a press conference. They said that this decision was taken for security reasons keeping in mind the recent unrest.

In a press conference, the President of Parbatya Bhikshu Sangh said, 'This is not the first incident of unprovoked attack, looting, vandalism, arson, even attack on holy temple and demolition of Buddha statue in Chittagong Hill Tracts. The same thing happens again and again. But the behavior of the administration is mysterious and biased. None of the previous incidents were properly investigated and prosecuted. There is no initiative to stop violence in the mountains! Seeing this extreme disorder and deterioration of law and order, we are stopping the event this time due to concern and fear.'

Amiya Khisa, general secretary of Rangamati Rajban Bihar Upasak-Upasika Parishad, said, 'We agree and declare solidarity with the decision taken by the venerable monks. This year there will be no Cheebar Daan ceremony in any Branch Vihar under Rajban Bihar.'