"Islam is a religion of peace and progress. But we don't want anyone to damage Islam's image by unleashing militancy and terrorism,” she said on Tuesday after inaugurating this year’s Hajj programmes at Ashkona Haji Camp in Dhaka.
“Religion is holy. It must not become a weapon for politics,” she emphasised.
Responding to ‘misinformation being spread’ about the Awami League, the party chief said, “Awami League has always tried to spread Islam.
“The Father of the Nation was always against the quarters that wanted to exploit Islam.”
The prime minister mentioned her government’s different steps including transportation of Hajj pilgrims, housing arrangement in Makkah and Medina.
The Hajj wing office was shifted to Bangladesh Hajj Mission in Makkah from Jeddah in 2009 and it made Hajj easier and improved services to the Bangladeshi pilgrims in past five years, she added.
Hasina also thanked the Saudi Arabian government through Saudi Ambassador to Dhaka Abdullah Bin Naser Al-Busairi, who attended Tuesday’s programme, for relaxing some issues in the new Hajj management considering the problems Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims face.