PM seeks Imams' support to complete war crimes trial
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought support from the Imams of the country for containing terrorism and militancy as well as completing the trial of war criminals.
Holding the war criminals responsible for spreading militancy and terrorism in the country, she said they should be tried so that they could not repeat such crimes in the future.
The prime minister said this while addressing the National Imam Conference 2011 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.
She said the government was working to materialise the dreams of Bangabandhu who had initiated many epoch-making steps for Islam after independence.
In the National Education Policy 2010, the government has taken steps for modernisation of Islamic education to provide moral teachings, she added.
About modernisation of madrasa education, she said 30 model madrasas had been set up while vocation courses were introduced in 100 madrasas and honours courses in 31 madrasas.
For the development of Imams, the government has established Imam and Muazzin Trust to ensure their welfare during their old age and bad days, Hasina said.
The premier also said the number of hajj pilgrims had been increasing for the last three years for the implementation of the National Hajj Policy 2010.
Bangladesh has earned appreciation from the Saudi government for its success in better hajj management in South Asia, and around 1.05 lakh pilgrims performed hajj last year, she said.
At the conference, the prime minister awarded three best Imams at national level and 64 imams at district level for their contribution to different sectors of society.
Imam Training Academy of Bangladesh Islamic Foundation organised the programme.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Advocate M Shahjahan Mia presided over the conference while Religious Affairs Secretary Qazi Habibul Awal gave the welcome address.
Bangladesh Islamic Foundation Director General Alhaj Samim Mohammad Afzal and Imam Moulana Abul Bashar also spoke on the occasion.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments