Fostering peace and tolerance through community policing

Bangladesh is a nation of more than 170 million people, where diverse religions, ethnicities, and languages coexist peacefully, a right guaranteed by its Constitution. This communal harmony is reflected in places like Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar district, where Buddhists, Muslims, and Hindus live together for generations. Here, citizens practice their faiths freely, fostering unity and respect among different communities.

In Ukhiya, religious festivals often overlap, creating shared moments of celebration. During events like Eid, Buddha Purnima, and Durga Puja, the community comes together, exchanging greetings and participating in each other's traditions. This unique harmony showcases the strength of diversity in Bangladesh, setting an example of peaceful coexistence for the nation and beyond.

However, communal tensions can sometimes arise, threatening harmony, like when Eid-E-Miladunnabi, Lakshmi Puja, and Prabarana Purnima coincided at Ukhiya in 2022. It was a beautiful day, with a festive mood as everyone prepared for their respective celebrations.

For the Buddhists, the highlight of Prabarana Purnima is the release of sky lanterns in the evening, symbolizing devotion. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding occurred during this tradition, sparking the potential for a communal riot. A lantern fell onto a mosque where Muslims were gathered for prayers. 

After finishing, some noticed the burning lantern atop the mosque, and miscreants quickly spread rumours accusing the Buddhists of deliberately setting the mosque on fire. This sparked an uproar, with some even preparing to retaliate by targeting Buddhist temples.

S M Shahidullah Kaiser, Secretary of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in Ukhiya Upazila, stepped in swiftly with his team. The CPF, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), empowers community police to prevent crime and social tensions, and ensure safety and security of the communities. 

Kaiser worked with community leaders, urging calm. He proposed a demonstration to let the crowd observe the uncontrollable nature of a lantern's path. His logic resonated, convincing the crowd that the wind, not malice, had caused the incident.

Kaiser reflected on the experience, saying, "Resolving the tension and restoring peace during the religious festival was a significant achievement for me. There are always those who try to mislead others and incite violence, but we must remain vigilant. Unity and diversity are deeply rooted in our culture, and as a community police officer, I strive to uphold these values and prevent such violence."

Since 2022, UNDP's Community Safety, Peaceful Coexistence, and Access to Justice Project (CSPC) in Cox's Bazar has worked to enhance community security, access to justice, and local governance by strengthening police capacity, improving community policing, and upgrading infrastructure for GBV survivors. The Community Policing Forum is a key example of these efforts in action.