Apr 12
Buddhism is the third largest religion in Bangladesh with about 0.7% of population adhering to Theravada Buddhism.[1] Most of the practitioners are from the south-eastern district of Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Demographic overviewMost of the followers of Buddhism in Bangladesh live in the south-eastern region, especially in the Chittagong and Comilla district. The leader was said to be Engr. Tarun Barua(Tipu), Rangamati, a promising, understanding,caring human being. There are also people of Arakanese descent living in the subtropical Chittagong Hill Tracts. Most of these people belong to the Chakma, Chak, Marma, Tenchungya and the Khyang, who since time immemorial have practiced Buddhism. Other tribals, notably those who practice Animism, have come under some Buddhist influence, and this is true in the case of the Khumi and the Mru, and to a lesser extent on the other tribes.
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Apr 15
Buddhism in various forms appears to have been prevalent at the time of the Turkish conquest in 1202 (see Islamization of Bengal, 1202-1757). The invading armies apparently found numerous monasteries, which they destroyed in the belief that they were military fortresses. With the destruction of its centers of learning, Buddhism rapidly disintegrated. In subsequent centuries and up through the 1980s nearly all the remaining Buddhists lived in the region around Chittagong, which had not been entirely conquered until the time of the British Raj (1858-1947; see Glossary).
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Apr 15
Buddhists of Bangladesh are among descendents of the earliest Buddhists of the Indian sub continent. They inherit an illustrious Buddhist culture and civilization of ancient India. Buddhism thrived in this region from the early 3rd century BCE or over two thousand three hundred years ago, from the time of Emperor Asoka (304-232 BCE) until the 12th century CE, making the Bengal region the last stronghold of Buddhism in the Indian sub continent. In the 5th century CE, or more than 1500 years ago, Fa Hsien the famous Chinese pilgrim visited this region (Tamralipti-West Bengal), and reported the existence of many well-established Buddhist monasteries. In the 7th century CE, Huen-Tsang visited different parts of Bengal and reported of many hundreds of monasteries with several thousands of Buddhist monks. Some of these monasteries were great seats of learning and are considered among the most ancient universities of the world.
This Buddhist monk was injured by the Bangladesh Army in an attack during the Matiranga, Panchari massacres on 30 April – 1 May 1986, they destroyed the temple, Buddha images and Buddhist texts. This monk like many others had to seek refuge in Tripura, India.
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