Staff Reporter:
Highlighting Bangladesh’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony, Prime Minister Tarique Rah-man yesterday stressed on collective efforts to build a safe and peaceful country for all.
“We, all religions, are sitting together here today. We are in one row. This is the timeless tradition of our Bangladesh. No one should be allowed to create divisions among us,” he said.
The premier added: “Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians—together we will build a peaceful Bangladesh. We will build a safe state and a safe society for all, which is expected by the people of all classes and profession”.
Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the monthly honorariums scheme for imams, muazzins and khadems of mosques, and heads and assis-tant heads of other religious institutions across the country.
At the event, he opened the program by pressing the button of IBAS system to send the honorariums to the bank accounts of respective beneficiaries through EFT system under a pilot scheme at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.
About the government’s newly launched program, the premier said 16,992 religious leaders from 4,908 mosques, 990 temples and 144 Buddhist monasteries have started receiving monthly honorariums from yesterday under the first phase of the pilot scheme.
Noting that everyone will be included under this program in phases, he said the main objective of these government economic programs for people of different classes and professions is to make citizens eco-nomically self-reliant.
Tarique Rahman also encouraged religious leaders to engage in economic and social activities alongside their religious responsibilities and assured them that the government would extend full support for such initiatives.
He announced that the government has decided to include one imam or khatib or religious leader from other faiths in the law and order committees at every district and upazila.
Shaykh-e-Charmonai Mufti Syed Fayzul Karim, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Mufti Muhibbullahil Baki, Pesh Imam, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque; Mufti Saiful Islam, Khatib, Dhanmondi Taqwa Mosjid; valiant freedom fighter Uday Sankar Chakraborty, general secretary of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram Kurigram; Dharma Mitra Mahathero, head of the International Buddhist Monas-tery, Dhaka; and Archbihop Bejoy N D’Cruze, OMI, Archbishop of Dhaka; spoke at the function.
Highlighting the responsibilities of the citizens, Tarique Rahman said, “If we, as citizens, properly fulfill our responsibilities towards the state and society from our respective positions, I hope that in the next 10 years, we will be able to see a politically and economically self-reliant Bangladesh, In-Sha-Allah”.
Tarique Rahman called for being imbued with religious, social and moral values, saying, “An economi-cally prosperous state may ensure financial comfort in people’s lives, but without acquiring patience, honesty, gratitude, respect, loyalty, solidarity, tolerance, generosity, friendship, humility, responsibility or kindness, a person cannot become a complete human being”.
“To achieve such human qualities, it is important to be inspired by religious, social and moral values,” he added.
Citing this quote from the holy hadith – “One who does not have trustworthiness and security, he/she is not a true believer. And one who does not keep promises has no religion,” the premier said, “A person gets mental guidance for a purified life and healthy thoughts from the behavior acquired from the state, society and environment and ecology”.
He said these liberal educational statements of religion are unparalleled in building a safe society free from ‘revenge and violence’.
“I believe that every religion has such positive messages for building a morally rich human society. Therefore, the role of people with religious knowledge like you is very important in creating a mentality rich with religious, social and moral values,” Tarique Rahman said.
In addition to ensuring welfare in this world, the Holy Quran also teaches about the welfare in the here-after, he said, adding, the instructions regarding the welfare in this world and in the hereafter are un-doubtedly given according to the religious rules of other religions.
“Therefore, it is important to continue thinking and trying to see how you can further utilize your educa-tion, qualifications and experience for the welfare of the country and the people in the light of religious rules,” the premier said.
After concluding his speech, Tarique Rahman took part in a photo session with beneficiaries on the stage.
