Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP becomes extreme form of Muslim when polls come, but they forget about their duty for the Islam as well as alems-olemas after the votes.
“Ershad made the Islam as the state religion and Begum Khaleda Zia took votes from the alems-olemas by showing sympathy to them. But they didn’t do anything for the welfare of the Islam. So everyone should remain alert against those persons who become extreme form of Muslim when elections come,” he said.
The minister stated these while addressing a discussion and Iftar Mahfil organized by Bangladesh United Islami Party (BUIP) at Jatiya Press Club here.
State Minister for Religion Md Faridul Haque Khan addressed the discussion as special guest with BUIP chairman Maulana Md Ismail Hossain in the chair.
Hasan said many governments ruled the state before Awami League. But, they didn’t do anything for the welfare of Islam, he added.
He said there was demand of Islamic Arabic University for long. “BNP was in power along with Jamaat and Erahed was in power along with Maulana Mannan. But they didn’t fulfill the demand. Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has established the Islamic Arabic University,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The information minister said the premier has recognized the certificate of Qawmi Madrasha and also provided jobs to them (students). The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working to establish mosque at every district and every upazila while many mosques at district and upazila levels have been constructed and were inaugurated, he added.
He said there were only a few masque-based maktabs across the country before 13 years ago and the alems got only Taka 500 as allowance. But, now about two lakh mosque-based maktabs have been established after the Awami League government took charges and the alems are getting Taka 5,200 as allowance, he added.
Former lawmaker Md Sirajul Islam Molla, Hussain Muhammad Ershad Trust chairman Kazi Md Mamunur Rashid, Islamic Foundation Board of Governing Body member Dr Mufti Maulana Kafil Uddin Sarker Salehi and BUIP secretary general Shaikhul Hadis Maulana Mufti Shahadat Hossain, among others, addressed the discussion.
