Deputy Minister for Education and Elected MP from Chittagong 9, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel made a courtesy visit to the Archbishop’s House, Chittagong on 25 May at 11.30 am. Archbishop of Chittagong Most Rev. Moses M. Costa, csc; Parish priest of Cathedral Rev. Fr. Bonifas Tolentino, Archdiocesan Curia personnel and many other parishioners received Mr. Nowfel cordially. There were some discussion between Deputy Minister for Education and Archbishop of Chittagong regarding some pressing issues.
After the arrival of Mr. Nowfel Children of Saint Benedict Orphanage and Archbishop Moses M. Costa received him with singing and flower. Archbishop gave him a little tour around the newly constructed bishop’s house of Chittagong. Barrister Nowfel along with some of his associates exchanged some words with Archbishop Moses, Fr. Bonifas, Archdiocesan Finance Administrator- Fr. Pankaj Pereira, Director of Caritas Chittagong Region- Mr. James Gomes, Archdiocesan secretary and pastoral coordinator- Mr. Manik Willver D’Costa, Cathedral parish council vice-chairman- Mr. Moses Shamol Gomes and many other lay leaders, clergy and religious.
Barrister Nowfel was gifted a souvenir as a symbol of friendship by the Archbishop of Chittagong. Archbishop said, ‘Catholic Church is like the salt and light in Bangladesh. We are few in numbers but serving people irrespective of cast, religion and culture especially through education, healthcare and economic development. In the education sector Catholic Church is doing a major task in Bangladesh.’ Deputy Minister for Education said to the people gathered in the conference hall that, ‘Catholic church and the christian community in Chittagong is a part of the City’s heritage. Recent events that is threatening the harmony between the people of different faith and cast need to be resisted by collective efforts. He admitted that Catholic church is doing excellent job in the field of education and service and promised to assist in any way possible from the side of Government.
After the public meeting there was another private meeting with Barrister Nowfel where Archbishop himself, Fr. Pankaj Pereira, Mr. James Gomes, Headmistress of St. Mary’s School Jamalkhan- Sr. Sangita, SMRA and Mr. Manik Willver D’Costa were present. The meeting was a positive gesture and a hope for bringing solution to the long term problem with theĀ ownership of the Don Bosco School, Bandarban.
