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Pillay also addressed the executive committee of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh, as well as several church leaders.
National Council of Churches in Bangladesh president Rev. Christopher Adhikari, who is also a member of the WCC central committee, welcomed Pillay, as did Jayanta Adhikari, former WCC central committee member and former president of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh.
They discussed the political instability and other challenges faced by Bangladesh, asking for prayers and interventions.
Pillay spoke about the WCC’s role in promoting gender justice, women’s empowerment in Bangladesh, strengthening theological education, and participation of Bangladesh students at the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute at Bossey.
Students speak out
Pillay met the leadership of the Bangladesh Student Christian Movement, including its general secretary, Monica Biswas, who welcomed Pillay as the first WCC general secretary of the WCC to ever directly meet with the Bangladesh Student Christian Movement.
Biswas gave a brief overview of the Student Christian Movement’s ongoing work as well as its challenges.
Daisy Roy, chairperson of the Bangladesh Student Christian Movement, also highlighted some of the challenges. One of the major challenges faced by the movement is dwindling financial resources, which becomes a stumbling block in organising activities. However, the passionate “senior friends” – people who were part of the movement during their student days, continue to help the movement financially.
Pillay expressed that he appreciated the commitment of the students and senior friends and encouraged them to continue the movement despite these challenges. He also assured them that the WCC will be happy to collaborate with them in capacity building.
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