At the heart of Dhaka, the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University has become a vibrant hub for peace and non-violence, where the spirit of human unity is flourishing through sports, education, and intercultural exchange. This week, the campus resonates with excitement as youth delegations from Pakistan and Nepal prepare for the Triangular Inter-University Peace and Non-Violence Football Tournament, beginning on the 13th of November. The host university, representing Bangladesh, has welcomed the visiting teams with warmth and grace, organizing a beautiful jersey-presentation ceremony that symbolized friendship and solidarity beyond borders.
Yet, this gathering extends far beyond the football field. Alongside the matches, a parallel retreat and training program on Silo’s Education for Peace and Non-Violence is being conducted by Declér Hague from Australia at International Standard University. The inclusion of educational sessions underscores that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict—it is a transformative process that begins within individuals and ripples through communities. Declér’s sessions focus on the “internal and external work” of peace building, encouraging participants to cultivate empathy, reflection, and active non-violence as lifelong practices.
Adding depth to these discussions, Irshad Ahmad Mughal from Pakistan shared profound insights on social change through peace and non-violence. He beautifully compared the process of change to sowing a seed—nurtured by patience and collective effort, it eventually grows into a mighty tree of peace. His words reminded the youth that transformation begins with small acts of understanding, cooperation, and kindness.
The spirit of cooperation was also evident in the interactions between the international and local participants. Students of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University have shown exceptional commitment, volunteering to assist their Pakistani and Nepalese counterparts—from organizing logistics and meals to managing sports events. Their enthusiasm reflects a genuine desire to build bridges of friendship and mutual respect across nations.
In the evenings, humanist groups from Dhaka have gathered to discuss strategies for sustaining this movement of peace and non-violence through sports and education. These meetings represent more than coordination—they are the seeds of a long-term regional collaboration that aims to connect hearts and minds across South Asia.
This initiative at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University demonstrates how universities can serve as catalysts for social change. By integrating sportsmanship with peace education, they nurture a generation that values dialogue over division, compassion over competition, and cooperation over conflict. The smiles, conversations, and shared experiences among young people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal reflect the promise of a future where borders lose their meaning, and humanity becomes the common ground.
What is unfolding in Dhaka is not merely a football tournament—it is a living example of how peace and non-violence can be practiced, celebrated, and spread. Through such collective efforts, a new social consciousness is taking root—one that may indeed grow beyond boundaries and bring nations together in the spirit of harmony, respect, and shared humanity.