I want peace, not prime ministership : PM at BICC

The Prime Minister said the BNP and Jamaat cadres are burning the sleeping people to death by pouring petrol and such kind of oppression on people could not be tolerated. "The BNP-Jamaat cadres laugh seeing the burning people," she said referring to 15-year-old Monir Hossain who was killed in BNP- Jamaat brutality during recent hartal. Sheikh Hasina again mentioned that she requested Begum Zia over phone on October 26 to call off hartal. But the opposition leader turned down her (Sheikh Hasina) proposal, she said. Turning to the war crimes trial issue, the Premier alleged that the BNP-Jamaat-Hefajat have become desperate to thwart the trial of the war criminals. "This trial should go on for the welfare of the human being. as those war criminals committed genocide, arson, violating our mothers and sisters. Their trial must be held on the soil of Bangladesh," she asserted.
Terming Islam as a religion of peace, the PM said there is no place for terrorism and militancy in it. Sheikh Hasina called upon the Alem, Ulemas, Khatibs and Imams to beware of those who are out to malign Islam through their ill attempts to turn it into a religion of militancy and unleash atrocities on people. She also urged the religious leaders to create awareness among the youths and their parents about the destructive impacts of drug addiction. About the steps the government has taken for the development of Madrasa education, the Prime Minister said there are two types exist in the country's Madrasa education -- one is Alia and another is Quomi.
She said the students who pass from the Alia madrasa are getting scopes of government jobs as Alia education programme is recognised by the government. But, the Quomi students are deprived of the government jobs as there is no government recognition to their certificates. "That is why we've taken initiatives for bringing the Quomi Madrasa education under the government certificates. Some are explaining it in wrong way, " she said. "Our aim is so that the students who pass from Quomi madrasa can get jobs in public and private sectors as well as abroad. But, it would not be made mandatory and none will be forced to accept it," she added.
Sheikh Hasina said there is no place of falsehood in Islam. "But, a vested quarter is resorting to propaganda against Awami League. They burn the holy Quran, vandalize mosques and kill people in the name of religion," she said adding, "The holy Islam does not approve such type of work." The Prime Minister said such type of false propaganda always exists against Awami League. But, the victory of falsehood does not happen always, she added. "It is now clear to the people the real development of Islam is made by Awami League and I believe that the patriotic people would make us victorious by casting vote again," she said seeking cooperation of all to this end.
Listing various steps for the welfare of Islam, she said the present government has digitized Al Quran including translation and pronunciation of Arabic, Bengali and English. "We've passed the Islamic Arabic University Bill in the Jatiya Sangsad for establishing an Arabic University," she said. The Prime Minister said initiatives have been taken to constitute a 'Fatwa Board' at national level to implement the Supreme Court verdict regarding Fatwa. "Leading Alem, Ulema, Mufti and Mufassirs of the districts will be incorporated in it," she added.
She said her government has constructed academic buildings of 1,000 madrasas for development of madrasa education and introduced honours courses in 80 madrasas. "We would built a central mosque with modern facilities in every district and upazila headquarters if we're given responsibility of running the government again, Insha Allah," she said.

Earlier, the Premier distributed awards to the best trained imams at national, divisional and district level and the winners of children's and juvenile's cultural competition.