Muslim world in peril for militancy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the Muslim Ummah was facing danger and crisis as some people chose the wrong path of militancy.
“The whole Muslim Ummah has got trapped in danger due to some people's move to take a confusing path [of militancy]. We won't allow militancy and terrorism to be active in our country,” she said.
The PM was inaugurating the Hajj Programme-2017 at the Hajj Camp in the city's Ashkona.
Some people were misusing Islam by killing innocent people in the name of the religion, she said. “As a result, innocent Muslims across the world are facing harassment and even losing their lives.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also said Islam is the religion of peace and there is no scope in Islam for killing innocent people, Hasina told the programme.
“No one has the right to kill innocent people; the almighty Allah will give the last verdict. Why can't they keep confidence and trust in Him?”
About suicidal attempts by militants, she said Islam never permits taking own life.
“Islam never said one would go to heaven by committing suicide. Some people are creating this confusion...we don't want our people to take this confusing path.”
Terming hajjis the guests of Allah, Hasina urged them to pray for Bangladesh so that people can live in peace and the government can continue the pace of development.
The premier said the government took initiatives to remove all the irregularities and disorders in the hajj passengers' transportation management and housing system in Makkah and Madinah and their healthcare services. “We've been presenting the pilgrims with a smooth hajj management system since 2009.”
There were irregularities, corruption and indiscipline in renting houses and transportation of pilgrims during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat government and the Awami League government put an end to these through introducing a digital hajj management system, she said.
As a result, the number of hajj pilgrims has increased to 1,27198 this year against 47,983 in 2006 and this has been possible due to implementation of massive development programmes by the AL government, the PM added.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Religious Affairs Secretary Abdul Jalil and Saudi Charge de Affaires Abdullah HM Al-Mutairi addressed the programme, among others, with Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman in the chair.
Later, the PM exchanged greetings with pilgrims.
This year, hajj flights to Saudi Arabia will begin tomorrow and continue till August 26. The first hajj flight, carrying 419 Bangladeshi pilgrims, will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 7:55am.
A total of 177 flights will carry the hajj pilgrims. The return flight will start on September 6 and continue till October 5.
The number of return flights will be 169. Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines will carry the Bangladeshi pilgrims.
Some 127,198 Bangladeshis will perform hajj this year. Of them, 4,230 pilgrims will perform the pilgrimage under the government management.
From this year, hajj flights will also go to Madinah.
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