A newly built market owned by the Catholic Church was inaugurated on August 29 in Gournadi, a busy commercial area of Barishal District in south-central Bangladesh, providing a new source of income for the local parish while bringing together traders from different religious communities.
Bishop Emmanuel K. Rozario of the Diocese of Barishal officially opened the Gournadi Catholic Church Market on Bandar Road at a ceremony attended by local officials, business leaders, and representatives of Christian, Muslim, and Hindu communities.
The market has 27 shops and has already attracted strong interest from local traders. Most shops have been rented by Muslims, while two are operated by Hindus and one by a Christian entrepreneur.
Speaking at the inauguration, Bishop Rozario expressed hope that the market would contribute to local economic development while promoting honesty, service and social responsibility.
“Business is also an opportunity to serve people,” the bishop told the traders. “I encourage everyone who operates here to think not only about profit but also about serving the community.”
The project reflects efforts by Catholic institutions in Bangladesh to strengthen financial self-reliance as access to foreign funding becomes increasingly difficult.
“At one time, parishes depended heavily on foreign aid. Now, obtaining that support is becoming more challenging,” Fr. Liton Gomes, parish priest of Gournadi, told RVA News. “That is why we have taken this initiative to make better use of our existing resources. Through this project, the Church can move toward greater self-reliance.”
Beyond its economic purpose, Church leaders see the market as a place where people from different faiths can interact in their daily lives.
“As Muslims, Hindus and Christians come together in this market, it can help strengthen religious harmony and peaceful coexistence,” Fr. Gomes said.
The shops offer a range of goods and services, including groceries, clothing, cosmetics, pharmacies and beauty parlors, making the market a convenient destination for local residents.
Among those attending the opening were Tariq Hasan Russell, officer-in-charge of Gournadi Model Police Station, and Zahurul Islam Zahir, president of the Gournadi Press Club.
Zahir highlighted the significance of the location, describing Bandar Road as one of Gournadi’s key commercial centers.
“With this new market, local trade and business activities are expected to expand,” he said. “It will create greater shopping convenience for residents and can play a positive role in the local economy.”
For Gournadi’s small Catholic community, the market represents more than a business venture. It is an effort to strengthen financial sustainability while serving the wider community and promoting interfaith harmony in a region where people of different religions have long lived side by side.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
