Dhaka, Oct 10 (V7N) – State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad today said mosques must be kept above partisan politics to uphold their true dignity, stressing that attempts had been made in the past to turn them into party offices.
"Mosque is the house of Allah. Attempts had been made in the past to turn it into party offices. We must restore mosques to their proper dignity. Islam belongs neither to any political party nor to any individual," he said while addressing the Jatiotabadi Olama Dal's founding anniversary programme as chief guest, organized by its Panchagarh district chapter at the Panchagarh Government Auditorium today.
He said that they were not against religious gatherings (mahfils); rather, they wanted to extend cooperation in organising such events. However, the state minister warned that any attempt to oppose or conspire against the government in the name of mahfils would not be tolerated. He urged every leader and activist of Olama Dal to remain vocal against such activities.
Emphasising the objectives of religious gatherings and the selection of speakers, Farhad Hossain Azad said neutral speakers should be invited to every mahfil so that they could guide people towards the right path through proper interpretations of the Holy Quran and Hadith without speaking in favour of any political party.
"There is no need to invite speakers to mahfils to deliver speeches in favour of any political party. The main objective of such gatherings should be to convey the true teachings of Islam to the people," he said. He also called for identifying Islamic scholars and speakers capable of presenting the proper interpretation of Islam in the light of the Quran and Hadith. The state minister said religious programmes should serve as a means of promoting Islamic teachings, morality and human values.
Panchagarh district unit Jatiotabadi Olama Dal Convener Mufti Muhibur Rahman presided over the programme, while its Member Secretary Hafez Md Rafiqul Islam Sarkar delivered the keynote speech.
Panchagarh district BNP Convener Md Zahirul Islam Kachchu, district council Administrator and BNP Joint Convener Alhaj MA Majid, BNP Joint Convener and Public Prosecutor of the District and Sessions Judge Court Mirza Nazmul Islam Kajal and former public prosecutor Advocate MA Bari attended the programme as special guests. Panchagarh district Olama Dal Senior Joint Convener Alhaj Md Khairul Islam conducted the programme. Leaders and activists of the organisation and Islamic scholars were present at the event.
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