Dhaka, Jan 25 (V7N) — Religious Affairs Advisor Dr. AFM Khalid Hossain has announced that a Tk 100 crore project is being undertaken for the welfare and development of imams across the country. He said the project proposal will be submitted on January 28.

He made the announcement while speaking at the National Imam Conference organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the China–Maitree Conference Center on Sunday. The conference was held to promote the referendum and encourage voter participation.

Dr. Khalid Hossain urged imams and religious leaders to motivate people to vote ‘Yes’ in the upcoming referendum to bring about change and establish the rule of law. He rejected what he termed as false propaganda, stating that claims about the absence of “Bismillah” in the July Constitution are misleading.
“The country will move forward by voting ‘Yes’ on February 12,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Professor Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor, said that the future of the country lies in the pink ballot paper. He stressed that voting ‘Yes’ is essential to avoid returning to an era marked by enforced disappearances, killings, and anarchy.

Professor Riaz also criticized the concentration of power in the past, saying that excessive authority of the Prime Minister created a ‘Pharaoh-like’ rule in the country. He noted that people were deprived of their voting rights because the Election Commission lacked independence.

He further said that if political parties win the ‘Yes’ vote, they will be held accountable, adding that corruption is expected to decrease through the proposed reforms.

END/SMA/AJ