BSS
Muslim devotees across the country have expressed gratitude to and showered in praise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for undertaking the world’s largest mosque project marking the “Mujib Borsha” to preach the true message of Islam.
“Honorable Prime Minister, you have set a rare example in the world by undertaking the project of constructing 560 model mosques across the country for preaching the true messages of Islam eliminating the religious misconceptions,” a musulli (devotee) at Khulna Alia Madrasah Model Mosque, AKM Zakaria said while interacting with the premier after inauguration of 50 model mosques.
On the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened these model mosques cum Islamic cultural centers.
The inaugural ceremony was held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka with State Minister for Religious Affairs M Faridul Haque Khan in the chair while the premier joined it virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Besides Khulna Model Mosque, Dakshinsurma Upazila Model Mosque in Sylhet and Badargonj Upazila Model Mosque in Rangpur were connected to the inaugural ceremony virtually.
AKM Zakaria, who has been offering prayers at the Madrasah mosque for the last three decades, said these model mosques will play a pivotal role in eliminating militancy and other social vices, including violence against women and child marriage.
All people of Khulna are very much happy getting such a modern mosque equipped with all facilities for preaching the true essence of Islam, he said, adding “The people will remember you forever and your name will remain written in golden letter”.
A woman devotee Yeasmin Begum connecting from Badargonj end in Rangpur became emotional, saying “It is great pleasure for us that we would offer prayers at mosque along with male devotes after the era of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). And you, our bride, have made it possible”.
“We wished you long and healthy life so you can serve the Islam for long,” she added.
Another musulli connecting from Dakshinsurma Upazila Model Mosque said, “You honored us by giving such a gift of model mosque following your father’s footsteps of establishing Islamic Foundation for preaching the true Islam”.
The people will remember your contributions towards Islam, he said, adding, “We pray for eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 carnage”.
Compared with other mosques, Lecturer (Arabic) of Khulna Alia Madrasah Md Saiful Islam said, the model mosques are totally different as these are equipped with all facilities.
These mosques will be used for offering prayers five times a day and as Islamic Cultural Center simultaneously, he said, adding the mosques will also produce Hafiz-e Quran and those will have conference room, library, rest house, training facility and arrangements for washing dead bodies for funeral, which are unavailable at general mosques.
While briefing the newsmen on the premises of Savar Upazila Model Mosque on Wednesday, Deputy Project Director (DPD) Shafique Talukder said imbued with the spirit of Islam and following the footsteps of Father of the Nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come up with the idea of constructing the 560 model mosques across the country involving Taka 8,722 crore.
It is the second largest project after Padma Multipurpose Bridge, which is being implemented with own funding, he said, adding, “It is the first ever in the world that any government is building such a large number of mosques at a time”.
According to the project documents, the purpose of the project is publicity of Islamic brotherhood and its values as well as disseminating the essence of Islam against extremism and militancy as the religion never supports those.
It would also put concentration on creating awareness against terrorism and violence against women along with disseminating development activities of the government.
