Joint Cleaning of Religious Buildings Conducted in Maungdaw District to Promote Social Harmony Regardless of Race and Religion

News ၊ August 14, 2026

In Maungdaw District, Arakan State, people from diverse racial and religious backgrounds including Rakhine, Muslim, and Hindu communities have joined hands to clean religious buildings as part of activities aimed at promoting social harmony.

During the initiative carried out in Maungdaw Town on August 11, local residents and participants from various organizations collectively conducted cleaning activities at the Shwe Zigon Pagoda, the Jameh Mosque, and a Hindu temple.

The joint cleanup effort saw participation from local civilians, departmental staff, ULA/AA members, Muslim women's forces, women's groups, party youth forces, Hindu youth, ward administration members, and representatives from civil society organizations.

The activity aimed not only to keep religious structures clean and orderly, but also to foster greater mutual respect, understanding, and trust among people of different ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds.

A member of the Muslim women's force told Arakan Bay News that despite differences in ethnicity, religion, and background, peaceful coexistence is possible if people respect and understand one another. She emphasized that social harmony cannot be built by one side alone, but requires the collective effort of all.

"Even though we have different ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds, if we respect and understand each other, we can live together in peace. Social harmony cannot be built by just one side; it requires everyone's cooperation," she said.

A local resident also expressed joy at seeing people of different races and religions working together, noting that preserving not only one’s own religious sites but also those of other faiths is vital for deepening mutual understanding.

"I am delighted to see people of different races and religions working together like this. Cleaning and maintaining not just our own religious places, but also those of other faiths together, is crucial for fostering greater understanding among us," the resident said.

Similarly, in Buthidaung Town on August 9, local residents including Rakhine, Muslim, and Hindu community members collaborated to clean local religious buildings and community surroundings.

In areas such as Maungdaw and Buthidaung, where people of diverse ethnicities, religions, and cultural backgrounds live side by side, community-led initiatives like these play a significant role in improving social relations and building mutual trust.

Building social harmony is an ongoing process that goes beyond cleaning religious buildings; it requires mutual respect, understanding, reducing discrimination, and taking joint responsibility for the welfare of the community.

Members of the Muslim community noted that if inclusive, multi-faith initiatives continue in Maungdaw and Buthidaung, trust and understanding among diverse groups will grow stronger, providing a solid foundation for lasting social harmony.

Source@ABN