Staff Reporter :
A section of Qawmi madrasa based Islamic scholars on Saturday gave a number of proposal to the government to construct ‘minar’ (tower)–instead of sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman– inscribed with the 99 names of Allah.
They placed the five-point proposal, calling upon the government to find a better alternative in light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah to show respect, and said showing respect to a great leader or a man through constructing his sculpture is “anti-Islamic”.
The proposals were made at a meeting held at Jatrabari Madrasa in the capital with Mahmudul Hasan, acting president of Qawmi Madrasa Education Board (Befaq) and Chairman of Al Hayatul Uliya Lil Jamiatil Qawmiya Bangladesh, in the chair.
The meeting was held following recent debate on construction of sculpture of Bangabandhu at the capital’s Dholairpar.
Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, secretary general of Befaq, told reporters that eminent Islamic scholars from all over the country took part in the meeting where the five proposals were accepted based on everyone’s opinion.
“We will be sending the proposals to the prime minister in the form of a memorandum. At the same time, we will seek time to meet the prime minister to talk to her on this issue,” he said.
He also said that making idols or sculptures for any purpose is strictly forbidden in Islam.
Replying to a question on what is the alternative to this end, Mahfuzul Haque said, “Our proposal is to build Mujib Minar inscribed with the 99 names of Allah.”
Amir of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolon Maulana Ataullah, President of a faction of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Mufti Muhammad Waqqas, Vice President of Islami Andolon Bangladesh Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, and Mufti Ruhul Amin, attended the meeting was attended, among others.
Earlier, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Islami Andolon Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish lodged protest opposing the government’s move to construct the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Several senior ministers of the government, on the other hand, argued that sculptures and idols are not the same thing, and said there are sculptures in many Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan on Saturday assured to bring an end to the ongoing debate over construction of Bangabandhu’s sculpture within a week.
The minister said this while talking to reporters after a meeting at the Jamalpur Circuit House.
Regarding the ongoing debate, the state minister said, “Most of the problems have already been solved. The ministry believes that this problem will be completely resolved within the next week.”
“The Ministry of Religion Affairs is taking action on what needs to be done for a secular Bangladesh,” he said.
