A legal notice has been sent to declare Bishwa Ijtema and Tabligh Jamaat as “religious tourism.”
The notice also demanded the appointment of a government administrator at the Markaz Mosque in Dhaka's Kakrail.
The notices have been sent to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, secretary of the Planning Ministry, director general of Islamic Foundation, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, and head of Tabligh's Markaz Mosque in Kakrail.
Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hasan sent the notice on Sunday.
The notice explains that Hajj is the largest gathering of Muslims all over the world, and Bishwa Ijtema is considered the second largest congregation.
Apart from Bishwa Ijtema, the activities of Tabligh Jamaat continue throughout the year, the notice reads.
“Bangladesh can earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange every year as the activities of the Bishwa Ijtema and Tabligh attract a large number of foreign Muslim tourists to Bangladesh,” the notice reads.
It adds: "The main obstacle to this huge potential religious tourism in Bangladesh is the inefficiency of various government ministries and institutions and the violent activities and mentality of some religious leaders. Most religious leaders and clerics in Bangladesh are more interested in politics than religion.”
The concerned officials have been requested to take appropriate action in this regard.
