Promode Mankin, state minister of cultural affairs, is Catholic and a Garo (also A-chik Mande or hill people), an ethnic group found in Bangladesh as well as India. He is on his third mandate as a Member of Parliament for Mymensingh 1 (Haluaghat). He said that Christians have been waiting to see Easter Sunday recognised as a national holiday for the past “30 years”.
“I raised the issue in the cabinet for the first time,” he told AsiaNews. “The government should declare Easter a national holiday,” but a “strong popular movement” must back the move because it is opposed by many Muslims.
More importantly, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) is in favour of moving the weekend from Friday-Saturday, which is based on the Islamic calendar, to Saturday-Sunday because, “In Europe and the United States, the official day of rest is Sunday.” The temporal discrepancy has long-term effects and “causes every year huge losses to companies”. Muslims oppose the change, but “in many Muslim countries like Pakistan Sunday is the main day of rest.”
Last Sunday, Bangladeshi Christians shared the joy of Easter with Muslims and Hindus. There were however episodes of religious fanaticism.
Fr Leo Desai said he celebrated the festivity “under heavy threats”. He explained, “The same group of people who removed the fence from our land have been saying that they would ‘put Christians on the cross’.”
Minister Mankin said he was aware of the “anti-Christian attacks,” but added that he was “working to ensure their safety”.
At the same time, “Christians in Bangladesh are waiting with hope that the government might soon recognise Easter Sunday as a national holiday,” he noted.