Minister urges imams to combat social evils through Friday sermons
Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaikobad) today urged imams to play a more active role in raising public awareness against drugs, bribery, corruption, extortion, adultery and other social evils through Friday sermons.
"Imams have an important role to play, alongside law enforcement agencies, in eliminating social injustice and immoral practices," he said while addressing a national imam conference as the chief guest.
The conference was organised at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Agargaon here on the occasion of the "Bangladesh Jatiya Imam Samity's Triennial Council".
Noting that people listen to imams with deep trust and confidence, the minister called upon them (Imams) to use Friday sermons to promote moral values and strengthen social awareness.
He also outlined the government's plans to improve the financial security and social status of those serving religious institutions.
Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's pre-election pledges to provide honorariums to imams, muezzins and other religious service providers, Minister Kaikobad said the process of providing honorariums had already begun in phases.
The minister said Taka 1,100 crore had been allocated for the development sector of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Religious leaders serving at 347,339 religious institutions across the country would be brought under a government honorarium framework in phases over the next four years, he added.
Highlighting the historical contributions of imams and Islamic scholars, Kaikobad said Imams, Ulema and Pirs had extended support and cooperation during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
Recalling the role of religious scholars in the 'Yes/No Referendum' during the early years of the ruling BNP, he said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia announced a Taka two crore welfare fund in 1994 to improve the socioeconomic condition and dignity of imams and muezzins.
"Subsequently, the fund has grown to nearly Taka 100 crore," he added.President of Bangladesh Jatiya Imam Samity Maulana Kazi Abu Huraira presided over the conference.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Religious Affairs Rafiqul Islam Jamal, Daily Inqilab Editor AMM Bahauddin, BNP Chairperson's Adviser on Middle East affairs Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Mufti Abul Hasan, MP, from Sylhet-5 constituency, and Director General (DG) of the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh Mufti Muhammad Habibullah Baki Nadvi, among others, attended the programme.
