Bangladesh, three Catholic candidates in general election
Dhaka (AsiaNews)
- The Catholic minority in Bangladesh is stepping into the political arena to
make its contribution to the country : it is in this spirit that three lay
people have decided to stand in the forthcoming general elections. They
are John Gomes , a lawyer in the district of Natore , Raymond Areng , a
professor in the district of Netrakona ; Promod Mankin , a lawyer. A
significant move for a nation with a Muslim majority, where the Christian
community represents just 0.4 % of more than 160 million people.
Gomes
will run in the ranks of the Banlgadesh
Nationalist Party (BNP ), the main opposition. "I
want to run - he tells AsiaNews - to
affirm the existence of Christians in society. I want to give voice to my
community ." In
addition to his fellow parishioners, many Muslims have expressed their support.
Areng,
an ethnic tribal , will instead attempt to enter Parliament among the ranks of
the Awami League , the Socialist and secular
Party currently in government. According
to the professor , "Christians also have the right to enter politics at a
national level ."
Mankin will
also be a candidate with the Awami League.
He
is a "pioneer " in politics: in the past he was elected three times
to Parliament, and also held the position of Minister for Social Welfare .
.png)
