Buddhist monks at Dharmarajika, a Buddhist monastery in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, are continuing a new annual tradition begun in 2013—serving iftar, the evening meal with which Muslims break their fast during Ramadan, to underprivileged Muslims. Venerable Suddhananda Mahathero, the 89-year-old abbot of Dharmarajika and supreme patriarch of the Bangladesh Bauddha Bhikkhu Mahasabha (the Supreme Sangha Council of Bangladesh), has been joining a team of 15 Buddhist monks to serve boxed iftar meals every day during the religious observation.

Muslims take Iftar at sunset to break the daily fast during the month-long religious festival—a tradition upheld by Muslims to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Ramadan traditionally takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This year, Ramadan began on 6 May and will end on the evening of 4 June with Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast.

The Arab News newspaper quoted a Bangladeshi government official who lauded the iftar initiative at Dharmarajika as an example of social harmony between different religious groups in a country that all too often witnesses religious intolerance and deadly attacks against minority groups.

“It’s a nice initiative from the Buddhist community, especially at a time when the world is experiencing many hate crimes and inter-religious conflicts. It upholds the spirit of religious harmony,” said Abdul Hamid Jomaddar, joint secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.“Our government believes in the coexistence of different religions, which is the beauty of this secular land.” (Arab News)

Venerable Suddhananda initiated the project as a gesture of responsibility to local Muslim community, from whom the Buddhist monastery has received support since it was established in 1951.

“Since the early days of the monastery, we have received tremendous support in celebrating different Buddhist festivals from our Muslim friends. So I thought it’s time to do something in return,” said Ven. Suddhananda. “I have been blessed by the love of the local Muslims. I believe that this is the least we could do to give them back the same love.” (Arab News, Dhaka Tribune).