Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always thinks about the welfare of alem-ulema (Islamic scholars) and none thinks like her for them (alem-ulema).
“BNP-Jamaat government didn’t think for them (alem-ulema) when they were in office. But they (BNP-Jamaat) always tried to use religion as a weapon during the elections,” he said this on Saturday while addressing a function at his home constituency at Rangunia upazila through video conferencing from his official residence in city’s Minto Road.
In the function, special gifts of the Prime Minister were distributed among about 500 imams and alems of Ranguniya upazila.
Hasan said Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken landmark steps for the alem-ulema.
“The government has constructed a mosque in every district and upazila, set up a maktab (elementary Islamic school) along with a teacher at one lakh mosques, recognized the higher education of Kawmi Madrasha, established the Islami Arabic University and gave Taka 5,000 to almost every mosque. This is only possible for her (Sheikh Hasina) pragmatic steps for the alem-ulema,” he added.
In his speech, the minister expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey award winning journalist, noted cultural personality and veteran freedom fighter Kamal Lohani.
He also expressed profound shock at the death of former Deputy Chief Information Officer of Press Information Department Jafar Alam.
Hasan, also Awami League Joint General Secretary, prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Ranguniya Upazila Vice Chairman Shafiqul Islam, AL upazila unit General Secretary Engineer Shamsul Alam Talukder and Religious Affairs Secretary Jashim Uddin Talukder, among others, addressed the programme from Ranguniya with Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Fakhrul Islam in the chair.
In the function, every imam and alem of 504 mosques of Ranguniya received Taka 5,000 as special gift of the Prime Minister through Islamic Foundation.
Later, a prayer was offered seeking progress and prosperity and good health of all.
