Imams now out against graft

Imams in Mosques on Friday delivered special 'Khutba' with interpretation before the Juma prayer to motivate the common people against corruption in the light of the Holy Quran and the Hadith in Rangpur and its neighbouring districts.

The Khutba was delivered as per a directive of the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh and the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Moulana Obaidul Haque, with a view to creating mass awareness against corruption and crime to free the country from these two vices for ever, officials told BSS.

In his pre-Juma speech, the Imam of Rangpur Police Training Centre (PTC) Jam-e Mosque Moulana Muhammad Fakhrul Islam said Islam never allows any corruption including grabbing of public property as it is against humanism and one of the worst sins.

Citing concerned verses from the Holy Quran and the Hadith, he said corruption must not be allowed anywhere and by anybody and corrupt elements should be dealt severely as per law of the land to establish justice and rights of all in a society.

He said it is a matter of utter shame in the light of Islam that some corrupt people have grabbed and misappropriated huge public property over the years making Bangladesh into a champion of corruption in the world.

"The Almighty has given us fertile land, huge resources and manpower but the corrupt people have stolen everything, sucked the blood of common people and made the country poorer," he said.

Appreciating the anti-corruption drive, Moulana Muhammad Fakhrul Islam urged the Musollis and common people to strongly stand against all crimes and corruption and extend all cooperation to the present Caretaker Government in its bid to free the country from all these vices.

Similar speeches were delivered by the Imams of major Mosques in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, Naogaon and other neighbouring districts.