Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought cooperation from the country's Islamic scholars in spreading the message among people that there is no place for militancy and terrorism in Islam as it is a religion of peace.

“I seek your cooperation in establishing the belief among people that there's no place of militancy and terrorism in Islam...this is a religion of peace...please publicise this message,” she told National Khatib Conference.

Islamic Foundation organised the programme at the city's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

The PM reminded all, including religious leaders, not to make any remark which might hurt the religious sentiment of others. Religion is for individuals and everyone will perform rituals according to his own faith, she added.

She urged the Islamic scholars and country's people to take steps against those engaged in subversive and terrorist activities in the name of Islam. “Please stay alert and keep them away from such activities.”

Hasina said it hurts her too much when she sees some countries often relate militancy to Islam. “For a handful of people, we've to endue this immense pain...this is really very painful for us.”

Recalling the horrible days of burning copies of the Holy Quran in Baitul Mukarram area by “BNP-Jamaat and Hefajat activists”, she sought cooperation from the Alem, Ulema and Mashayekh (Islamic scholars) so that nobody can again commit such evil activities in future.

Referring to her joining of some international events, Hasina said she herself took a strong stance against generalising Muslims as terrorists.

The PM said only she had condemned and protested the killing of Palestinian children and women by Israel.

Anti-state quarters always try to portray the Awami League as an anti-Islamic party despite it made huge contribution to expansion of religious education and welfare of Islam, she mentioned.

The politics of killing, coup and conspiracy began after the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the premier noted.

She said returning to power in 1996 after long 21 years, the then AL government took massive steps for the development and welfare of Islam following the path of Bangabandhu.

Hasina said her government brought 43 district offices of Islamic Foundation and all its manpower under the revenue sector and also formed “Imam-Muajjin Welfare Trust” for the welfare of religious leaders.

She called upon Imams and religious teachers to spread the real teachings of Islam among the students so that they could be groomed with moral values.

On the occasion, the PM inaugurated distribution of the Quran under the “Mosque-based Children and Mass-Education Programme-2015” by handing out copies of the holy book as prizes to some students.

Under the project, over 4.45 lakh copies of the Quran would be distributed among the students of the Quran education centres across the country.

Religious Affairs Secretary Abdul Jalil, Director General of Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afjal and Convener of the National Khatib Council Muhammad Jalaluddin al-Kaderi also spoke at the programme, with Religious Affairs Minister Motior Rahman in the chair.