Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the people once again witnessed the horror of arson violence unleashed by BNP as the activists from the opposition party set fire to a number of buses during their protests.

“We again witnessed the terrible scene of arson violence unleashed by them even yesterday,” she said referring to the torching of several buses in the city on Saturday.

The premier said this while opening 50 more newly constructed model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across the country in the fifth phase.

She inaugurated the mosques through a virtual inaugural ceremony from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Hasina said BNP does politics in the name of Islam but they have no sincerity to the religious works. Whatever BNP did had been for show-off, she said.

“You know their character. They are quite terrorists. You saw the arson violence even yesterday. They burnt a number of buses,” she said, adding that they burnt running buses, trains, launches, offices and schools in 2013 and 2014 too.

The PM asked the people to remain vigilant so that such terrorists couldn’t damage the country again.

With the new ones, 250 mosques have so far been built as part of the government’s move to construct 564 district-level and upazila-level model mosques at a cost of Tk 9,435 crore throughout the country.

 harmony in the society.

The PM asked the imams and muazzins to make the people particularly the young generation aware of different social diseases including child marriage, militancy, terrorism and corruption.

“If you make the people aware during (Juhma) sermons you deliver on Friday, everyone –guardians, parents, teachers-- would remain conscious so that our children won’t engage in militancy, terrorism, corruption and other anti-social acts,” she said.    

Describing Islam as a religion of peace, she said it is the best religion and the most tolerant in the world.

She said the Islam is a religion of peace but its image is being undermined through militancy.  “Our holy religion is being questioned due to a handful of people,” she said.

She said her government adopted a zero-tolerance policy against militancy and terrorism.

Talking about model mosques, Sheikh Hasina said her government is constructing the model mosques so that the people can understand and realize the essence of Islam.

She directed the authority concerned to ensure online networks between the model mosques and Islamic Foundation. “The mosques should be run directly under the supervision of Islamic Foundation so that none can damage these mosques in future,” she said.

The prime minister asked all not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated in order to ensure food security amid the current global situation.
“We don’t have any scarcity of food, though commodity prices have gone up to some extent,” she said.

She asked everyone to plant at least three trees –one fruit bearing, one timber and one herbal sapling as massive tree plantation is required to protect the natural environment of the country.

Earlier, the PM opened 50 mosques each in the first phase on June 10, 2021, in the second phase on January 16 this year, the third phase on March 16 and the fourth phase on April 17.

The construction of the remaining mosques and Islamic cultural centres is scheduled to be completed by June, 2024.

The purpose of the project is to publicise Islamic culture and values as well as disseminate the essence of Islam against extremism and militancy.

Under category A, some 69 four-storey mosques having the elevator facility and a floor space of 2,360.09 square metres each are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas.

Under category B, 475 mosques are being built with a floor space of 1680.14 square metres each, while 16 mosques under C category in coastal areas will have a floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each.

The 50 newly opened mosques include Magura district model mosque and 49 upazila model mosques.

The 49 upazila model mosques are in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district, Karimganj and Hossainpur upazilas of Kishoreganj, Harirampur and Daulatpur of Manikganj, Damudya of Shariatpur, Tangail Sadar, Adamdighi and Sonatala of Bogura, Raninagar and Badalgachi and Sadar of Naogaon, Chapainawabganj sadar, Singra of Natore, Bera, Ishwardi and Sadar of Pabna, Puthia and Durgapur of Rajshahi, Palashbari of Gaibandha, Nageshwari of Kurigram, Birampur of Dinajpur, Hatibandha of Lalmonirhat, Mohongonj, Khaliajuri and Sadar of Netrokona, Dewangonj of Jamalpur, Trishal of Mymensingh, Barishal Sadar, Doulatkhan of Bhola, Nalchity of Jhalakathi, Mathbaria of Pirojpur, Sarail of Brahmanbaria, Haimchar and Hajiganj of Chandpur, Noakhali Sadar, Nangalkot and Sadar of Cumilla, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Satkania of Chattogram, Chhagalnaiya of Feni, Kawkhali, Naniarchar and Rajasthali of Rangamati, Phultala and Paikgasa of Khulna, Magura Sadar, Meherpur Sadar and Golapganj of Sylhet.

Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila and Phultala of Khulna district were connected to the inaugural event where the local people including alem-ulama, Imam, Muslim devotees, public representatives, politicians and government officials were present.

An audio-visual documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan chaired the event moderated by PM’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.

Religious Affairs Secretary Md A Hamid Zamadder delivered the welcome speech.