Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that the construction works of the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will continue.
The minister made the remarks in response to a question from reporters at the secretariat on Tuesday afternoon.
The minister also said 12 top Islamic scholars of the country had met him at his residence in Dhaka on Monday night to discuss the issue of installation of the sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, religious state minister and the secretary were also present in that meeting.
Regarding the meeting the home minister said: ‘The talks have been fruitful. There will be more talks and this problem will be solved on the basis of talks.”
Also read: Islamic scholars meet home minister over sculpture issue
"The government will not do anything which is against our constitution. Again, no one's religious feelings will be hurt,” he said.
Asked whether the government's policy of resolving through negotiations is a kneeling-down, the minister replied: "We will not disregard any religion. But the Awami League does not believe in a kneeling-down policy.”
Minister again said: “The government wants to end the ongoing controversy over the sculpture through talks.”
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that: “The scholars have made five proposals, including building a minaret in the shape of the Qutub Minar in place of the under construction sculpture of Bangabandhu.”
Regarding the government's position on the issue, the minister said: "The sculpture is under construction and will remain so."
The minister also said the scholars also acknowledged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a devout Muslim.