ASIA/BANGLADESH – Awareness and prayer for the abolition of the death penalty, according to the intentions of the Pope

ASIA/BANGLADESH – Prayer and awareness for the abolition or the death penalty according the Pope’s intentions

Dhaka (Agenzia Fides). – According to Pope Francis’ prayer asking for prayer for the abolition the death penalty in September 2009, there have been initiatives of awareness in Bangladesh and prayers in the Catholic communities. This concern reflects the Pope’s deep concern for humanity, and the Church’s mission to transform prayer into concrete gestures.
“We agree with Pope Francis about the need to abolish the death penalty in Bangladesh. Fides Father Patrick Gomes is Secretary of Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue and deputy priest of Beneedwar in Naogaon. The priest reminds us that no one, sinner or saint, has the right to execute anyone. It is important to find alternatives to the death penalty. The condemned could be accompanied on a path that involves rehabilitation, repentance and reconciliation with life and the injured. God can transform a person’s heart. A heart can be transformed by love and care. We strongly support the call for the abolition the death penalty from Bangladesh,” said Fr. Gomes confirmed that the country’s Catholics had prayed with Pope Francis this month for the abolishment of the death penalty.
Fides learned that the Pope’s invitation asking all people of goodwill to mobilize in support of the abolition in the world of the death penalty was received and shared in Bangladesh by Christians as well as leaders of other religious groups.
Bhikkhu Priyo is the Secretary General of the Buddhist Federation of Bangladesh. He is a prominent Buddhist religious leader. It is better to be close to the convict to offer advice and talk to him about how to change. If a convict is given the death penalty, he can’t walk a path to atonement. He cannot feel and understand his mistakes. According to our Buddhist view of the death penalty, it should be abolished all over the world.
Young Hindu Sujon Roy reiterated support for Pope’s prayer request: “The Death Penalty doesn’t solve any problem.” It’s against God’s creation. It should be removed.
The country has a large Islamic population, but the Imam of Darus Salam Hussainia Mosque, and Madrasa in capital Dhaka Mohammad Hatam expresses a contrary opinion: “Islam allows death penalty according the Holy Quran. The death penalty can be used to reduce crime “by acting as an deterrent”.
In Bangladesh, 162 people were sentenced to death by the courts in the past six months. The Bangladesh Penal Code provides the death penalty for 33 crimes. The death penalty was also approved by the government in 2020 for the crime of sexual assault. Amnesty International reported that executions in Bangladesh increased by 60% between the previous and 2021. (PA/FC) (Agenzia Fides, 27/9/2022)

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