Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon Alem and Olama (Islamic scholars) to instil humanitarian values among people and guide them against terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.

“These are destroying families and the society as well,” she said while virtually inaugurating 50 more model mosques across the country from her official residence Ganabhaban.

She also requested all, particularly the children, not to get involved in militancy, saying, “Militancy is dishonouring Islam instead of dignifying it.”

Sheikh Hasina urged the guardians and teachers of educational institutions to be cautious as children and youths are targeted by militants.

“We can develop our society in a beautiful manner by erasing miseducation, differences, conflicts, terrorism, and militancy through realising the true sense of Islam,” she said.

The prime minister said that through the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres, people would get true knowledge on Islamic values and culture.

This will help in not being misled in the name of religion, alongside contributing immensely to stop terrorism, militancy and repression on women, she added.

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She said that the government has undertaken the projects of constructing model mosques so that no one can mislead people in the name of Islam.

The PM said the model mosques would enhance people’s knowledge of Islam – a religion of peace, fraternity and friendship.

“It would help stop terrorism, militancy and repression on women, with imparting the true knowledge of Islamic values and culture on people,” she said.

Describing the Alem and Olama as the “Orasatul Ambia”, she said people of the country respect the Khatibs and Imams of mosques.

“Make sure that none can mislead people using our religion. You can educate people to refrain from getting involved in social ills that include drug addiction, child marriage, repression of women, food adulteration and corruption through your daily sermons and khutba during Jummah,” she said.

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She said religion cannot be used as a political weapon.

“Our target is to put an end to torture and repression, using religion,” she said.

The PM said Islam ensures free exercise of religions by people of all faiths.

“Irrespective of political identity and opinion, we can build a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’ – with equal respect to every religion and with the non-communal spirit,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that Awami League has always been a “servant of Islam”, and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stopped racing, gambling and alcohol sales.

She mentioned that Bangabandhu established madrasa board, allocated land for Baitul Mukarram Mosque and Ijtema ground – to uphold Islam.

“Bangabandhu had taken initiatives to hold Bishwa Ijtema in Bangladesh and incorporate the country as a member of the OIC,” she said.

Following the ideals of the Father of the Nation, she said they have taken various programmes to dignify Islam that includes constructing 564 model mosques at each of the upazilas and districts.

The prime minister said that she has so far opened 100 model mosques across the country while the rest will be opened in phases.

The government is now building three storey model mosques and Islamic cultural centres in every upazila and four storey mosque in every district.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Ministry Md Faridul Haque Khan and its Secretary Kazi Enamul Hassan spoke at the function from the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

Rajshahi, Shariatpur and Chouddagram of Cumilla district sites were also connected to the programme, where the local lawmakers, public representatives, political parties, government officers and common people were present.

A video-documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.