The 1st International Conference on Nursi Studies in Bangladesh was jointly organized by the Department of Arabic, University of Dhaka and the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture at Nabab Nawab Ali Senate Building in the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh on 5 February 2018. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka Dr. Mohammad Akhataruzzaman inaugurated this two-days long conference. The main theme of this conference was “Living in Peace and Harmony: The Risale-i Nur perspective”. The chairman of the Department of Arabic and the convener of the conference Dr. Mohammad Yousuf presided over the conference. The chief guest of the conference was the chairman of University of Grants Commission professor Abdul Mannan and the keynote speaker of the conference was Prof. Dr. Alparslan Açıkgenç, Member of Turkish Academy of Sciences and professor of Uskudar University, Turkey.
In the conference many distinguished guests presented their scholarly speech among them Associate professor of Alia University, India Dr. Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, professor of the International Islamic University Malaysia Dr. Elmira Akhmitova, professor of Singapore National University Dr. Sayeed Farid Alatas and Prof. of Suleyman Demirel University, Turkey Dr. Ishaq Ozgel. At the beginning of the inauguration program after projecting a documentary on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, the secretary general of the conference Dr. Abdullah Al Ma’ruf delivered his welcome speech. Then the coordinator of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture Dr. Hakan Gulerce explained the significance of the first international Nursi conference in Dhaka 2018.
Mr. Sait Yüce, MP, the Turkish National Assembly & the Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture was present at the conference as a special guest. Besides, the acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts Dr. Mohammad Shajahan Mia, the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md. Asaduzzaman Mia were also present at the conference as guests of honor. Many scholars from home and abroad presented their academic and scholarly articles in the conference.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka Dr. Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman welcomed the guests paying tribute to the remembrance of the martyrs of language movement. He said, “we have to apply the philosophy of peace and harmony of Islam in our daily life. There must not be any kind of religious fundamentalism or extremism in Bangladesh. Bangladesh does not support communalism and always takes its position against terrorism and extremism.” The VC expressed his hope to continue such joint initiative with Turkey in future as well. He said the authority of Dhaka university is always interested to take part in joint activities of research with Turkey and other international communities. It is worth mentioning that many researchers and students from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and some other countries joined this conference.
The Director of the Istanbul Foundation for Science and Culture Mr. Sait Yüce said that Bediuzzaman Said Nursi tried to treat our diseases from the holy Quran. He said that Imam Nursi refused the territorial nationalism and supported Islamic nationalism which incorporates 150 crore people all over the world. He said nowadays it has been very difficult to control criminal activities with different sophisticated technologies but only effective way to control crime is creating the fear of Allah in our mind.
The dean of the faculty of Arts Dr. Mohammad Shajahan Mia said that we want peace and harmony everywhere of this world. He also said that the territorial nationalism is a great threat to humanity, so this kind of nationalism should be abolished. Imam Nursi tried to bring peace and harmony in culture and in religion everywhere. He said that the conference is a good initiative to understand the true Islam.
The chairman of University Grants Commission Dr. Abdul Mannan Said that every religion came for peace and harmony, but sometimes people use religion for their own interest. In 1971 in our liberation war many innocent people were killed in the name of religion. Besides, many people all over the world for example in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, etc. are being killed in the name of Islam, but it is not real message of Islam. He said if we look at the ‘Medina Charter’ we will realize it is the most secularist constitution and the prophet (peace be up on him) was the most democratic person in history. He said, neither Islam nor any other religion ever preached violence. Muslims Kill Muslims it is not Islam, rather Islam encourages to protect your brothers and neighbors.
The convener of the conference and the chairman of the Department of Arabic, Dr. Mohammad Yousuf said in his speech that the Nursi conference in Bangladesh will demonstrate some new intuitions about the message of the holy Quran in the light of Risale-i Nur that will help us to make our life more peaceful and blessed with divine happiness. He said the conference can also inspire us to embrace the diversity of faiths in order to ensure a stable society. He said, Imam Nursi Illustrates the message of the Holy Quran in a distinct approach in his magnum opus, Risale-i Nur, which is unlike from other commentators. Nursi is an innovative and highly relevant thinker of the current society. The range of topics included in Risale-i Nur is very diversified and inclusive. He hopes that the distinguished scholars from different parts of the world will enlighten the participants with their valuable articles according to the teaching of Risale-i-Nur and make this conference more rewarding. He also said that the conference will also help improve the existing relationship between Bangladesh and Turkey to a new level.