AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described Islam as a religion of peace, brotherhood and friendship.
She said people would get true knowledge of Islamic values and culture from the model mosques and Islamic cultural centers which help them not to be misled in the name of religion.
She said, “We have taken the projects of constructing model mosques as none can mislead people in the name of Islam alongside creating awareness on the Islamic values.”
The premier said this while virtually opening 50 more model mosques across the country from her official Ganabhaban residence on Monday (January 16).
The prime minister described Islam as a religion of peace, brotherhood and friendship and said the model mosques would increase the knowledge of the people about the Islam.
It would also help stop terrorism, militancy and torture on the women through providing the people with true knowledge of Islamic values and cultures, she added.
Describing the Alem and Olama (scholars) as the “Orasatul Ambia”, she said the people of the country will respect the Khatibs (preachers) and Imams of the mosques, adding: “Make sure none can mislead the people using our religion.”
“You can make aware people of refraining themselves from getting involved in irregularities including drug addiction, child marriage, repression on women, food adulteration and corruption by your daily sermons and Jummah’s khutba,” she said.
The prime minister also called upon the alems to spread proper humanitarian values among the people and help them stay away from terrorism, militancy and drug addiction as these are destroying families and the society as well.
Sheikh Hasina urged all particularly the children not to get involved in militancy, saying, “Militancy is dishonoring Islam.”
The premier said the guardians and teachers of the educational institutions will have to be cautious as their children cannot get involved in militancy.
“We can build our society beautifully by erasing ill-education, differences, conflicts, terrorism, and militancy through realizing the true sense of the Islam,” she said.
The prime minister said the Islam ensures free exercise of religions by people of every faith.
“We all irrespective of party and opinion can build a developed, prosperous and "Smart Bangladesh" having equal respect to every religion and with the non-communal spirit,” she added.
Following the ideal of the Father of the Nation, she said they have taken various programs to dignify the Islam that included construction of 564 model mosques at each of the upazilas and districts.
The premier said she has so far opened 100 model mosques across the country while the rest of the mosques will be opened in phases.
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