Model mosques to provide education, create awareness in curbing social menaces: PM

Publish | 10 Jun 2021, 17:04

Online Desk

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said model mosques across the country are being established to provide education, create awareness and increase knowledge about Islam among the people to prevent different social menaces.

“Awareness has to be built in society against drugs, women repression, child repression and sexual abuse as like as the measures taken against terrorism, and we wanted to establish these mosques in such ways to provide all types of education, create awareness and increase knowledge about Islam,” she said.

The Premier was addressing the inauguration ceremony of 50 model mosques and Islamic cultural centres at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban this morning.

She urged the people to put the concentration in terms of religious views on child marriage, dowry, violence against women and drugs.

Referring to the measures taken by the government against terrorism engaging people of all strata of society at Upazila level and elsewhere, Sheikh Hasina said mass awareness has to be built against drugs, women as well as child repression and sexual abuse in such ways.

To this end, the government has established these model mosques, she added.

Laying emphasis on mass awareness about drugs, the Prime Minister said drugs are pulling society towards destruction and that is why social awareness is needed to free people from the bite of drugs.

On the occasion of “Mujib Borsha”, she inaugurated 50 model mosques, out of a total of 560, simultaneously across the country, aimed at preaching the true messages of Islam to eliminate religious misconceptions.

With State Minister for Religious Affairs Md. Faridul Haque Khan, MP in the chair, Religious Affairs Secretary Md. Nurul Islam delivered the welcome address.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the function while Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and officials concerned were present at Ganabhaban. A video on Bangabandhu and Islam was screened in the function.

Later, the Prime Minister connected virtually with the newly constructed Khulna District Model Mosque, Badarganj Upazila Model Mosque in Rangpur District and South Surma Model Mosque in Sylhet District and exchanged views with local Musallies.

The Prime Minister said she is feeling delighted that these model mosques would preach true messages of Islam and disseminate the culture of Islam and finally people from both home and abroad could realize the true essence of Islam.

Besides, religious education, training, Din-E-Dawah activities etc would also be conducted from these mosques alongside building awareness against terrorism-militancy, violence against women as well, she said.

Denouncing terrorism and militancy, Sheikh Hasina said a quarter is creating militancy and killing people in the name of Islam aiming to go to heaven. “My question is who went to heaven through this killing, can anyone say?” she said. But, these quarters of people have damaged most to the holy Islam, a religion of peace, she noted.

“I believe Islam is the best religion in the world, but the irony is that a certain quarter of people are stigmatizing Islam through creating militancy, killing people. It’s not only damaging the serenity of Islam but also destroying the Image of Islam across the globe,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina urged Islamic scholars, guardians, teachers, political leaders and activists to play role in keeping away the youths from destructive paths such as militancy and terrorism.

Mentioning that construction of mosques across the country was her party’s (Awami League) election manifesto, she said they have materialized it following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She also recalled different initiatives taken by the Bangabandhu for Islam such as the establishment of Islamic Foundation and Madrasha Education Board, ban of horse race and gambling, ban of liquor through enacting the law, allocation of land for Bishwa Ijtema and Tablig’s Markaz in Tongi and Kakrail respectively, recitation of Holy Quran in the beginning and end of the programme in Betar and Bangladesh Television, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Muslim worlds and attaining of OIC membership etc.

The Prime Minister said her government has introduced mosque-based education and allocated a special grant to it. In addition, they also established a welfare trust for Imam-Muazzin, acknowledged Qawmi Madrasha and provided financial assistance to Imam-Muazzin during the Covid-19 pandemic, she added.

She said they have translated and digitized the Holy Quaran in Bangla, English and Arabic to make it accessible among the people.

Sheikh Hasina went on saying her government has made the Hajj related information available using modern technology and developed mobile applications for easy pre-enrollment of hajj pilgrims.

The Awami League both in power and opposition always tried to do something better for the Hajj pilgrims, she added.

The 50 mosques are located at Savar Upazila in Dhaka, Madhukhali and Saltha Upazilas in Faridpur, Pakundia and Kuliarchar Upazilas in Kishoreganj, Shibaloy Upazila in Manikganj, Rajbari Sadar Upazila, Shariatpur Sadar and Gosairhat Upazilas, Shariakandi, Sherpur and Kahaloo Upazilas in Bogura, Sapahar and Porsha Upazilas in Naogaon, Sirajganj district and Sadar Upazila, Chatmohar Upazila in Pabna, Godagari and Paba Upazilas in Rajshahi, Khansama and Birol in Dinajpur, Patgram Upazila in Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh Sadar and Debiganj Upazilas, Rangpur district, Sadar Upazila, Mithapukur, Pirgonj and Badargonj Upazilas, Haripur Upazila in Thakurgaon, Subarnachar Upazila in Noakhali, Gafargaon and Tarakanda Upazilas in Mymensingh, Chattogram district, Lohagara, Mirsharai and Sandwip Upazilas, Jamalpur Sadar and Islampur Upazilas, Nabinagar and Bijoynagar Upazilas in Brahmanbaria, Bhola Sadar, Dakshinsurma Upazila in Sylhet, Daudkandi Upazila in Comilla, Panchari Upazila in Khagrachhari, Kushtia Sadar, Khulna district, Kachua Upazila in Chandpur, Rajapur Upazila in Jhalakathi and Chuadanga Sadar Upazila.

Imbued with the spirit of Islam and following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come up with the idea of constructing the 560 model mosques across the country involving Taka 8,722 crore.

Under category A, some 69 four-storey mosques having the elevator facility and a floor space of 2,360.09 square metres each are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas.

Under category B, 475 mosques are being built with a floor space of 1680.14 square metres each, while 16 mosques under the C category in coastal areas will have a floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each.

Source: BSS