Khaleda urges imams: Enhance image of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on Tuesday urged imams and religious leaders to play pioneering role in enhancing the image of Bangladesh as a liberal, secular and democratic state.

Begum Zia praised the positive role played by the religious leaders in mobilizing public opinion against the terrorist acts by misguided elements on August 17 last year and subsequent periods and hoped that they will continue their efforts in this regard in the coming days in the interest of the country. She was speaking at the National Imam Conference of the trained imams at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre here.

The Prime Minister said necessary steps are being taken to remove inequalities in education system to make it time- befitting. She expressed the hope that the religious leaders and imams will also play their supportive role in this regard.

Begum Zia called for acquiring latest knowledge of science and technology side by side with religious education in achieving future goals of the people and meeting the demand of time.

Organized by Ministry of Religious Affairs and UNFPA, the conference of the imams was addressed also by State Minister for Religious Affairs Musharref Hossain Shahjahan, President of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Religious Affairs Delwar Hossain Sayedee MP, Religious Affairs Secretary M. Ataur Rahman, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA representative in Bangladesh Suneeta Mukherjee, Director General of Islamic Foundation M. Falzur Rahman and Moulana Munirul Islam Farouqi on behalf of the imams.

Terming Islam as a religion of humanity and liberalism, the Prime Minister said Islam teaches peace, amity, equality and fraternity. "It is the moral duty of us all to ensure rights of every citizens of the country and practicing proper religious values,' she added

Describing imams as the leaders of the society, Begum Zia urged them to play responsible role in giving the people proper guidance.

The Prime Minister said the holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) never supported beggary but discouraged this ill. She underlined the need for following this attitude of the Prophet in personal, family, social and national life.

She urged the imams to actively participate in different development programmes undertaken by the government for removing poverty.

The government, she said has allocated Taka four crores for forming the 'Imam and Muazzin Kalyan Trust.' Assuring the imams of increasing the allocation for this fund in future, she urged them to improve their financial condition by taking interest-free loans from the trust.

The Prime Minister distributed awards among the best imams and extended her sincere thanks to the recipients.

Begum Zia appreciated the trained imams for their contributions to bring social progress and ensure welfare of the people at the grass roots level.

Describing Islam as the religion of peace, the Prime Minister said most of the people of this country are the followers of Islam.

The members of other religions are living with equal rights and dignity, she said and added Bangladesh has now been recognized as a liberal and democratic state as a result of religious and communal tolerance of the people of this country.

Begum Zia said more than four lakh imams and muazzins are now performing their duties in about two lakh mosques across the country. The imams and muazzins, she said, are making significant contributions to the national development from their respectable positions.

The Prime Minister said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had formed the Imam Training Academy in 1979 to familiarize the imams with the latest knowledge and inventions of science.

Begum Zia said about 55 thousands imams have been trained so far in seven imam training academy. The trained imams, she said, are now making valuable contributions to the country's socio- economic development.

She said all imams of the country will be brought under this training programme in phases. She expressed her satisfaction that the religious leaders and imams are being trained on reproductive health, family planning, gender issue, safe motherhood, mother and child health care, establishment of child and women rights, anti-dowry activities, curbing of terrorism and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Begum Zia also lauded the role of imams in removing illiteracy through adult education programme and in the mosque- based child and mass literacy programmes.

She said that her government has increased the fund for mosque- based child and mass literacy project to Taka 216 crore in fourth phase from its allocation of Taka 94 crore in third phase.

UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Thoraya Obaid said UNFPA will always support Bangladesh's efforts to train the imams on issues that shape the living patterns of the people.

" We need both faith and knowledge to make our way to progress, to end poverty and to ensure the rights of women as members of the society", she added.

Dr. Thoraya called for establishing strong South-South cooperation among the Ulemas of the Muslim countries.

In her speech, Suneeta Mukharjee praised Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's programmes for girls education which will revolutionize the status of women in future. Ministers, PM's political secretary, MPs, religious leaders and senior civil and military officials were present.