Buddhism in Bangladesh

Buddhism is the third-largest religious group in Bangladesh, making up about 0.63% of the country's population. It is believed that Buddha visited the region of East Bengal and shared his teachings, which helped many local people adopt Buddhism. This was especially true in the Chittagong Division, and later the Pala empire supported and spread Buddhism across the Bengal area.

Today, around 1 million people in Bangladesh follow the Theravada school of Buddhism, with a smaller number following the Mahayana Buddhists. Vajrayana Buddhism was once more common but is now almost gone. Most Buddhists, over 65%, live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and are mainly from groups such as the Rakhine, Chakma, Marma, Tanchangya, Jumma people, and the Barua. The remaining 35% are Bengali Buddhists. Buddhist communities can also be found in cities like Chittagong and Dhaka.

History

See also: Chandra dynasty, Pala Empire, and Khadga dynasty

Stories tell us that Gautama Buddha visited this area to share his teachings, and a few people decided to become monks to follow him. But Buddhism didn’t become very popular until later, during the time of Ashoka. The Pala Empire helped spread Buddhist ideas in what is now Bangladesh and built many important places for learning and worship, like Mahasthangarh and the Somapura Mahavihara. A well-known teacher named Atisha was born in Bikrampur and taught about Mahayana Buddhism.

Kings from the Chandra Dynasty and the Khadga Dynasty also followed Buddhism and built temples and monasteries. However, when new rulers came in 1202, they destroyed many of these places, and Buddhism began to decline. By the 1980s, most Buddhists in Bangladesh lived near Chittagong. In the 19th century, efforts were made to revive Buddhism, leading to the creation of two groups of monks.

In the hills near Chittagong, many Buddhist communities lived, mixing their traditional beliefs with Buddhist teachings. In 1981, about 538,000 people in Bangladesh followed Buddhism, making up less than 1 percent of the country’s population.

Demographic overview

As of 2014, people who follow Buddhism in Bangladesh are mainly from the Barua community living in Chittagong city, which is a busy business city, and some indigenous groups from the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Most Buddhist followers in Bangladesh are from the Barua people, making up about 65% of the small Buddhist group in the country. Other groups such as the Chakma, Chak, Marma, Tanchangya, and the Khyang have also practiced Buddhism for a very long time. Some other tribes, like the Khumi and the Mru, have felt influences from Buddhism too, though they mainly follow their own traditional beliefs.

Geographical distribution

According to the 2022 census, there are 1,001,974 Buddhists in Bangladesh. Most of them live in Greater Chittagong, which is home to about 96% of all Buddhists in the country. The largest groups are in Rangamati District, Khagrachhari District, Chattogram District, Bandarban District, and Cox's Bazar District.

Buddhist sites

Main article: List of Buddhist viharas in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has many important places where Buddhists used to gather and pray. One famous site is Somapura Mahavihara in Naogaon, which was built a long time ago and is now a special place recognized by the world for its history. Other important places include Jagaddala Mahavihara in Naogaon, Halud Vihara also in Naogaon, and many more across different parts of the country like Vasu Vihara in Bogra and Sitakot Vihara in Nawabganj.

Culture

There are many active monasteries in the Chittagong area. In most Buddhist villages, there is a school where boys can live and learn to read Bengali, the national language, and some Pali, an ancient Buddhist language. It is common for men to return to these schools regularly after they finish their regular schooling.

Buddhism has mixed with local traditions and beliefs in the areas where it is practiced. Most religious activities center around images of the Buddha, and important festivals celebrate key events in his life. While Buddhism teaches that the Buddha was an enlightened person and does not involve worshiping gods, many people also honor a group of gods and smaller spirits, with the Buddha at the head.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs helps take care of Buddhist temples and important items. Ancient monasteries at Paharpur (in the Rajshahi Region) and Mainamati (in the Cumilla Region), dating from the seventh to ninth century A.D., are protected by the government for their historical importance.

Persecution of Buddhists

See also: Freedom of religion in Bangladesh, Bangladesh genocide, and Human rights in Bangladesh

This section talks about difficult times faced by Buddhist people in Bangladesh. Some groups have been treated unfairly by others in the country. There have been moments when people were not treated well just because of their beliefs. Some of these events include:

• 1971 Bangladesh genocide
• 2012 Ramu violence
• Riots against indigenous Buddhist minorities
• Persecution of Buddhists in Bangladesh

Prominent Bangladeshi Buddhists

See also: Category:Bangladeshi Buddhists

Historical figures

• Atisa - a Buddhist monk from the 10th century who helped spread Buddhism to Tibet.
• Chandragomin - a poet and Buddhist follower from the 7th century from the Varendra region.
• Traillokyachandra - a king from the 10th century who became a follower of a Buddhist way of thinking.
• Vanaratna (1384–1468 CE) - one of the last important Buddhist teachers in Tibet.

Bhikkhus (monks)

• Gyanashree Mahathero
• Karmayogi Kripasaran Mahathero
• Jyotipal Mahathero
• Rajguru Aggavamsa Mahathera
• Rajguru Priyo Ratana Mahathera
• Ven. U Pannya Jota Mahathera
• Prajnananda Mahathera
• Suddhananda Mahathero
• Bishuddhananda Mahathera
• Satya Priya Mahathero

Administration

• Barrister Devasish Roy, Chakma Raja (Chakma Circle Chief)
• Bijoy Giri (15th Chakma Raja of Chakma Circle)
• Benita Roy (aristocrat, writer, diplomat, minister and Rani of Chakma Circle)
• Raja Nalinaksha Roy (49th Raja Of Chakma Circle)
• Mong Prue Sain (King of Mong Circle)

Freedom fighters

• UK Ching
• Braj Bihari Barua

Politics

• Dilip Barua (Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist–Leninist) (Barua)). Former Minister of Industries.
• Supradip Chakma, advisor to the Interim government of Bangladesh. Chakma was born in 1961 in what is now Khagrachhari District (then in East Pakistan).
• Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma
• Manabendra Narayan Larma
• Charu Bikash Chakma
• Kalparanjan Chakma
• Ma Mya Ching
• Aung Shwe Prue Chowdhury
• Sacing Prue Jerry
• Maa Ma Ching Marma
• Dipankar Talukdar

Arts and literature

• Benimadhab Barua
• Kanak Chanpa Chakma, artist
• Bipradash Barua, author
• Partha Barua, singer, lead vocal and guitarist of Souls Band
• Subrata Barua
• Ratan Talukder, Actor and martial artist

Education

• Bikiran Prasad Barua
• Sukomal Barua
• Amit Chakma
• Aye Thein Rakhaine, Academic and Politician

Sports

• Debabrata Barua, cricket
• Sumon Barua, cricket
• Monika Chakma, football
• Rupna Chakma, football
• Anai Mogini, football
• Anuching Mogini, football
• Maria Manda, football
• Ritu Porna Chakma, football
• Suro Krishna Chakma, professional boxer
• Aungmraching Marma, football
• Champa Chakma, cricket
• Mitul Marma, football