DHAKA, July 22, 2017 (BSS)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the hajj pilgrims to seek mercy of Almighty Allah while offering their prayers in the holy mosques for allowing the Muslims as well as people of other faiths in the country to live peacefully to continue the nation’s progress.
“You are going to the holy places. You will offer prayers so that the Muslims and people other faiths can live in this country peacefully and may Allah allow the wrong interpreters of Islam to come back to the right path,” she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this while inaugurating this year’s Hajj programme at Ashkona Hajj Camp here today.
Sheikh Hasina said we should be careful so that none can misuse Islam as the religion never supports killing of innocent people and indulges in militancy and terrorism.
Due to the activities of some misguided people, the whole Muslim Ummah is in danger, she said adding that the Muslims are being harassed around the world and even being killed.
“We will not allow their activities in our country, as Islam is a religion of peace and Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) also always preached for that. None has the right to kill innocent people. The last judgment will be done by the Almighty. Why they cannot keep faith in Him,” the prime minister said.
Sheikh Hasina said the people misinterpreting Islam are creating confusion among members of the public that a person who commits suicide would go to haven. But Islam never says that, she said adding that “we don’t want our country to ruin in this way.”
Sheikh Hasina sought help of the pious people to reach the true message of the religion to the people saying, “You will pray to Allah so that his blessings fell on them and they change their minds.”
Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashed Khan Menon, local parliament member Sahara Khatun, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Religious Affairs Bazlul Haque Harun, Deputy Councillor of the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka Saleh Al Mutairi were present as special guests while Minister for Religious Affairs Matiur Rahman was in the chair.
Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Abdul Jalil gave the welcome address while prayers were offered for safe journey of the pilgrims and acceptance of the holy Hajj to the Almighty.
Later, the prime minister exchanges pleasantries with the pilgrims. The first Hajj flight to Saudi Arabia, carrying 419 pilgrims, will begin from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on June 24 morning. This year, the Hajj flights will continue till August 26, 2017.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines will carry some 127,198 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year to perform Hajj.