There is no place for militancy and terrorism in Islam, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asserted yesterday as she sought co-operation from Muslim scholars to clamp down on those engaged in terror acts in the name of Islam.
“I seek your co-operation in establishing the belief among people that there’s no place of militancy and terrorism in Islam ... This is a religion of peace. Please, publicise it, she said while addressing the National Khatib Conference at Bangabandhu International
Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Hasina urged the Islamic scholars and the people of the country to take steps against those engaged in subversive and terrorist acts in the name of
Islam.
“Please stay alert and keep them away from such activities,” she said in the backdrop of a slew of attacks by Islamists, including against minorities in the Muslim majority country.
Hasina also lamented that some countries often mix
militancy with Islam.
“For a handful of people, we’ve to endure this immense pain … this is really very painful for us,” she said. She also mentioned that often people with vested interests wanted to create instability in the country.
“But it is the duty of the government to provide safety and peace to the people of the country along with ensuring food, shelter, medicare facilities and education so that their lifestyle can be improved. We’re working towards that direction,” the prime minister said.
There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh over the past six months specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers and foreigners. These incidents have killed at least nine persons including two foreigners and wounded more than 100.
Last week a top Shia preacher and homaoeopathic doctor were stabbed to death in southwestern Bangladesh in an attack claimed by the ISIS group.
A Hindu head priest was hacked to death last month by Islamists at a temple in northern Panchagarh district.
Recalling the contributions of the Father of the Nation to the welfare of Islam, Hasina said Bangabandhu had reorganised and expanded madrasa education board, and declared Shab-e-Barat and Shab-e-Qadr as public holidays.
Besides, he established the Islamic Foundation, provided lands for Biswa Ijtema at Tongi and Kakrail Mosque, she said.
Hasina said the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy began after the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation and his family members in 1975 while illegal governments allowed the rise in terrorism showing a disregard to the essence of Islam.
Hasina said her government brought 43 district offices of the Islamic Foundation and all its manpower under the revenue sector and formed Imam-Muajjin Welfare Trust for the welfare of religious leaders.
The prime minister called upon imams and religious teachers to spread out the real teachings of Islam among the students so that they could be groomed with moral values and characters.