‘Can’t go beyond constitution, but don’t want to hurt religious sentiments’

Regarding demands of Hefajat-e-Islam and clerics not to construct sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said the government cannot go beyond the constitution.

"At the same time, the government also does not want to hurt religious sentiments," he said.

The minister was briefing reporters at his office at the Secretariat following last night's meeting with a 12-member delegation of Alem (clerics) community at his residence.

The home minister said talks with the Alem community will continue and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold discussion to resolve the ongoing issues centring construction of Bangabandhu's sculpture.

About the outcome of last night's meeting, he said the discussion was "fruitful", but more talks will be held to settle all issues raised by the Alem community.

Asked about construction of Bangabandhu's sculpture at Dhaka's Dholaipar, the minister said work in continuing.

He, however, also said, "There was no decision yet on whether the sculpture will be there."

Asked about Hefajat's demand for construction of "MujibMinar" with 99 names of Allah inscribed, the home minister said they have also discussed the matter.

"We have told them (Alem community) that sculptures are not meant for worship," he said.

In reply to a query, he said the government didn't bow down to Hefajat's demands.