Sumon Corraya

The pontiff is scheduled to visit the memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the Liberation War against West Pakistan in 1971. Many of them were Christians, helped by nuns and priests. The pope will pay tribute to the country’s founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the museum dedicated to him. He will visit the Apostolic Nunciature and the compound that includes the Holy Rosary Church, one of the country’s oldest.

The clergyman was involved in church-related tasks two days ago. The parish priest filed a missing person report with police, saying he received a ransom call. A police officer fears it might a conspiracy connected to the papal visit. Some Catholics wonder whether to take part in activities related to the visit.

The pontiff will visit Bangladesh from 30 November to 2 December. "The pope expressed the desire to come two years ago, when the refugee crisis had not broken out." Over 620,000 Muslims have fled the Rakhine State in Myanmar.

The Polish pontiff went to the capital of Bangladesh on November 19, 1986, and ordained 19 priests. Some of them recall the moment of consecration, embrace, and touch of his hands. "He preached a society free from violence."

The pontiff will arrive in the capital on November 30. At least 550 Catholic volunteers do training courses to support police. CCTV installed. All events will be monitored and each participant checked.

The nuns have prepared 150,000 hosts, including 50,000 free. The congregation is also preparing the vestments for the 16 deacons who will be ordained by Pope Francis.

Mobashwer Hossain has been missing since 7 November. He teaches at North South University and has studied journalism. He has written critical pieces on Islamic extremism for Bangladeshi and foreign papers. Since August, 11 people have been missing.

A protest was held yesterday to remember the attack of November 2016 when police and Muslims looted houses and seized lands belonging to tribal Christians. Investigations have led to three arrests, but the accused are out on bail.

The ordination ceremony will be on December 1st during the Mass at Suhrawardy Udyan Park. The deacons came from the Major Seminary of the Spirit. A "great gift" to be ordained by the pope.

It's called Ayin Paramashi and is available online at www.ayinkanun.com. It provides free legal advice to couples in difficulty, over land issues and accidents. An initiative of Fr. Albert T. Rozario, Dhaka lawyer and coordinator of the legal aid group, ahead of pending visit by Pope Francis.

During a meeting, Asaduzaman Khan and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi decided to deal with the emergency bilaterally. A ten-point agreement was signed, including the repatriation and resettlement of refugees "at the earliest date".

Fr Marino, 92, spent 60 years in Bangladesh as a missionary. During the 1971 Liberation War he gave shelter to injured fighters. He was famous for translating the works of Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore.