Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said no previous government had done what Awami League (AL) government led by Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has done for Islam and Islamic scholars (alem-ulama).

"There was a hundred-year demand of alem-ulama to establish an independent Islamic Arabic University. But no Arabic university was established during the British period and even in Pakistan period," he said.

In Bangladesh, BNP, along with Jamaat-e-Islami, was in power while Maulana Mannan was made religious minister during the Ershad regime, but Islamic university was not established, Hasan, also ruling Awami League (AL) joint general secretary, said, adding that the AL government has established the Islamic Arabic University under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The minister made the remarks while exchanging views with madrasha teachers and ulama at Ranguniya upazila auditorium in the district.

Ranguniya Betagi Darbar-e-Astana Sharif Pir Golamur Rahman Ashraf Shah and Meheria Madrasha director Maulana Anas Madani addressed the meeting as special guests with AL upazila unit vice president Lokmanul Haque Talukder in the chair.

There was a demand for long for recognizing Qawmi madrashas, Hasan said, adding that Begum Khaleda Zia was in power but she didn't fulfill the demand.
 
He said Maulana Ahmed Shafi met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the government of Awami League not only gave recognition to the certificates of Qawmi Madrashas but also provided jobs to the Qawmi alems.
 
The minister said about one lakh mosque-based maktabs have been established in the country and there are about 200 mosque-based maktabs in Rangunia upazila only, he said, adding that the alems of every maktab are getting Taka 5,200 as allowance.
 
He said two teachers of Darul Arkam Ebtadayee Madrashas are getting Taka 12,000 each as allowances. The AL government has established 560 model mosques at district and upazila levels, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
 
The minister urged all Islamic scholars to project the works of the AL government before others. "I've tried my best to work for Islam and alems-olema after getting elected as a lawmaker. More than 20 new mosque buildings have been established at my own initiative and under Allama Foyzullha Foundation and our family organization NNK Foundation," he added.
 
Upazila chairman Swajan Kumar Talukder, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ataul Gani Osmani, municipality mayor Shahjahan Sikder, UP chairman Iddris Azgar, Engineer Samsul Alam Talukder, Rangunia Nurul Ulum Kamil Madrasha Saykhul Hadis Maulana Nazmul Haque Noimee, Rangunia Government College Professor Dr Maulana Abdul Mabud, Alam Shah Para Kamil Madrasha Principal Maulana Nazrul Islam Al Kaderi, Khandalia Para Madrasha director Maulana Md Sultan, Kodala Madrasha director Maulana Abdul Kader, Maulana Golam Kibria, AL upazila unit advisor Maulana Syed Ayub Nuri and Maulana Golam Kibria, among others, were present on the occasion.

Source: BSS