Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the Ulema Mashayekhs to carry the message to all people, there is no room for militancy and terrorism in Islam.
She expressed hope that the speech by the Khatibs of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah will take the government’s fight against terrorism and militancy forward and make it easier.
Sheikh Hasina said that while addressing at mammoth rally of Ulama-Mashayekh at Suhrawardy Udyan on Thursday afternoon which was organised marking the 42nd founding anniversary of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh.
Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman chaired the rally joined by spiritual leaders, Imams, students and pious people from far and near. Islamic Foundation Director General Shameem Afzal gave the welcome address.
Two top clerics from Saudi Arabia and about 100,000 Islamic clerics and preachers joined a grand rally in the city against extremism after a new wave of militant attacks.
It was staged to protest violence in the name of Islam in a country, where a rise in militancy has sparked international concern In her speech, the Prime Minister urged the audiences who attended the programme to spread the teaching of Islam across the country.
“Islam is a religion of peace. Islam doesn’t support killing of people. We cannot let anyone demean Islam,” the Prime Minister said.
Sheikh Hasina also urged Muslim countries to unite to launch a concerted campaign to eliminate terrorism, reiterating her complete solidarity with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz’s initiative.
She claimed that weapon manufacturers and traders were eventual beneficiaries of the militancy at the cost of Muslim blood.
“It is very unfortunate that Muslims are being killed by Muslims. I believe that the initiative of the Saudi King would help make all Muslim countries aware of the fact,” she said.
She also expressed her willingness to work with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to fight militancy.
Besides, she also recalled the warm hospitality she was extended by the Saudi King during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Hasina said that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the pioneer of promoting Islam in Bangladesh saying “Bangabandhu founded the Islamic Foundation for promotion of Islam and worked for educating the people about religion.”
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a country with vast Muslim majority population.
Bangabandhu also allocated land for world’s second largest religious congregation Biswa Ijtema in Bangladesh, constituted the Madrasa Education Board and took steps for renovation of all mosques across the country.
Vice President of the Masjid al Haram (Grand Mosque) and Al Masjide Nababi (the Prophet’s Mosque) Dr Mohammad Bin Nasser Bin Mohammad Al Khuzaim, and Al Masjide Nababi Imam Abdul Muhsin Bin Mohammed Bin Abdur Rahman Al Qasim from Saudi Arabia, attended the rally as special guests.
