Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad said the government would not allow any injustice, oppression or persecution against Alems and madrasas.
He made the remarks while addressing an exchange meeting as chief guest at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Agargaon in the capital on Sunday morning .
The minister said Islam survives and will continue to survive because of the scholars. No external assistance is needed to preach Islam or run madrasas, as Allah will sustain them until the Day of Judgment. He added that much could be achieved if the country’s Alems united on a single platform.
Highlighting the importance of Alems in preserving rawhide, the minister said, “In the past, we saw rawhide buried underground because fair prices were not available. Such incidents must not happen again. We have to ensure that. The government will also play an active role in this regard.”
He urged proper skinning and preservation of rawhide to maintain quality and also warned strongly against the dominance of leather syndicates and middlemen.
Describing Alems as the custodians and carriers of society, the minister said, “During the 1979 referendum, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had no organisational structure. The Pirs and Mashayekhs of Bengal, Qawmi Islamic scholars, and madrasa students and teachers worked as activists of former minister Ziaur Rahman at the time. They secured victory by casting ‘yes’ votes.”
He expressed gratitude to Qawmi Islamic scholars for their role in the Liberation War and all democratic movements.
The minister said no government head since independence had considered introducing honorary allowances for Imams and Muazzins. “Tarique Rahman did that. Gradually, all employees serving at mosques and other religious institutions across the country will receive the allowance,” he added.
Islamic Foundation Director General A Salam Khan chaired the meeting, while Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad attended as special guest.
Islamic Foundation Secretary Sheikh Murshidul Islam, Director Muhammad Harunur Rashid, Muhaddis Waliur Rahman Khan, Jamia Furkania Lalbagh Madrasa Muhaddis Zubayer Ahmed and Azimpur Faizul Ulum Madrasa Muhtamim Sakhawat Hossain, among others, also spoke.
The speakers urged the government to take necessary initiatives to ensure fair prices for rawhide.
Muhtamims and teachers from different madrasas in Dhaka city, along with Khatibs, Imams and Islamic scholars, attended the programme.
