Govt to guard devout Muslims: minister

The Awami League-led government will take every possible step to uphold the sanctity of mosques, and protect devout Muslims and Alems of the country, State Minister for Religious Affairs Shahjahan Mia said Sunday.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 Feb 2013, 11:17 AM
Updated : 23 Feb 2013, 11:18 AM

”The whole nation is shocked at the mayhem in the name of Islam under the banner of 12 like-minded parties including the Jamaat-e-Islami,” he told a press briefing at the Islamic Foundation in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Stressing that Bangladesh is a country of “communal harmony”, the minister alerted the Alem-Olemas and faithful Muslims against efforts to “convert the country into an extremist state”.

Shahjahan Mia said the shutdown of YouTube proves that the Awami League-led government was determined to honour the religious sentiments of the people.

Authorities in Bangladesh recently blocked the YouTube website indefinitely to stop people watching a US-made film believed to be insulting to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is respectful towards Islam and people’s religious sentiments,” he added.

The minister alleged some dailies and a section of media were instigating the religious sentiments of the people of the country by spreading falsehood in the name of Alems and Olemas.