The workers were constructing a toilet at a school next to the temple in Faridpur’s Madhukhali Upazila
Shia Ismaili leader Prince Karim Aga Khan’s role lauded in Bangladesh
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has praised the Shia Ismaili community’s spiritual leader Prince Karim Aga Khan for his global role.
Published : 27 July 2017, 07:02 PM
Updated : 31 July 2017, 04:24 PM
He spoke at a reception celebrating the diamond jubilee of the Aga Khan as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims in Dhaka on Thursday .
Ali said like his grandfather, he focused on efforts concerning the well-being of his own community and the wider Muslims as well.
“The Aga Khan’s work is underpinned by an emphasis on Islam as a spiritual faith which cherishes the role of the intellect, teaches compassion and tolerance, and upholds the dignity of humankind”.
He also praised the role of the Aga Khan Development Network in Bangladesh and said the network is committed to enhancing its investments in the education sector with the establishment of the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka which is to be located on approximately 20 acres of Network-owned land in Bashundhara.
The academy will be comprised of world-class facilities and become part of an integrated network of 18 such academies being built globally.
The Development Network organised the reception at a Dhaka hotel.
The Aga Khan is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter.
At the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan as the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims 60 years ago.
Today, the Aga Khan leads a global community of some 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, living predominantly in South Asia, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and the Far East.
July 11 marks the day of his accession to the Ismaili leadership.
AKDN’s Resident Representative to Bangladesh Munir M. Merali said the Jubilees serve as “important milestones for His Highness and members of his community, to recognise the friendship and longstanding support of leaders of state, governments, and other partners in the work of the Imamat”.
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