All eyes on Rohingyas as Pope arrives today
UNB
Pope Francis who called for unity in Myanmar without saying Rohingya, arrives in the capital at 3:30pm today on a three-day state visit carrying a message of harmony, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness, reports UNB. A planned meeting with a small group of Rohingyas is expected to be a high point during the Popes Dhaka visit. On Tuesday in Myanmar, Pope Francis insisted on Myanmars future depends on respecting the rights of each ethnic group, an indirect show of support for Rohingya Muslims who have been subject to decades of discrimination and a recent military crackdown described by the UN as a textbook campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Francis did not mentionthe crackdown or even utter the contested word Rohingya in his speech to Myanmars civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other authorities and diplomats in the capital. But he lamented how Myanmars people have suffered and continue to suffer from civil conflict and hostilities, and insisted that everyone who calls Myanmar home deserves to have their basic human rights and dignity guaranteed.
A papal visit is always historic for any nation, and this one at the invitation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Catholic Archbishop of Dhaka Cardinal Patrick DRozario, was officially announced in Dhaka and the Vatican simultaneously with the same sense of occasion on August 28.
As I prepare to visit Bangladesh, I wish to send a message of greeting and friendship to entire population. I look forward to the moment in which we shall be together, he said in a message before leaving Rome for Myanmar. Cardinal Patrick DRozario on Monday briefed the media about the preparation of Popes visit to Ramna Cathedral and said the theme of the visit is peace and harmony.
The organisers in Dhaka took preparations to bring a small group of Rohingyas to Dhaka with approval of the government.
After a formal ceremony with highest honour, Pope will visit the National Martyrs Memorial at Savar, pay homage to the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and sign the visitors book on the same day.
He is scheduled to meet President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban at about 5:30 pm on Thursday and will also meet government and civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps in the Presidential Palace.
Pope will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 3:20 pm on Friday and will visit the Cathedral at 4:00 pm.
He will hold a meeting with the Bishops of Bangladesh in the Home for retired priests. On Friday, he would join a prayer service at Suhrawardy Udyan.
On Saturday, Pope will have a private visit to Tejgaon Mother Theresa House and will meet priests, religious and consecrated men and women in the Holy Rosary Church.
He will also visit to the Parish Cemetery and to the ancient Holy Rosary Church and meet the youth in Notre Dame College.
Pope will leave for Rome at 5:05 pm on Saturday after an official farewell in Dhaka International Airport. My visit is to confirm the Catholic community in Bangladesh in its faith and witness to the Gospel that recognises the dignity of every man and woman and calls us to open our hearts to others, especially to the poor and needy, Pope said in his message.
