Quader: Radicals creating debates over Bangabandhu's sculpture

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said a communal force is creating unwanted debates over the establishing of sculptures of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Imaginary explanations centring Bangabandhu's sculpture is a challenge to the Liberation War spirit and the country's culture," he told a press conference on contemporary issues at his official residence on the parliament premises in Dhaka on Saturday. 

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Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said a religious fundamentalist group is giving misinterpretation over the sculpture of Bangabandhu, the architect of independent Bangladesh, to spread hatred among religious people.

"Do not take the government's liberalism as weakness. Any comments against the spirit of country's Liberation War and constitution will not be tolerated. Any evil attempt to destroy the people's peace and comfort will be resisted," he said.

The minister urged the people who believe in the country's independence and Liberation War spirit to build united resistance against all the evil efforts.

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Quader said the head of the government earlier said there will be no law that will be conflicting with Quran and the Sunnah.

So, those who are making ill attempts to create an issue centring the religion to destroy the country's religious tolerance will be dealt with an iron hand, he added.

'Sculptures, idols not the same'

Quader said in the post-independence period, Bangabandhu had established Islamic Foundation to promote Islamic research and practice.

He said Bangabandhu reformed the Madrasah Board for flourishing religious education and gave land to Tabligh Jamaat for spreading Islam.

Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as a devoted follower of Islam, is establishing model mosque complex in every upazila to foster true Islamic practice, he added.

Quader said there is no scope to believe that any anti-Islamic work will take place in the country when a religious Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is running the government.

The minister said those who are spreading misleading information by calling ‘sculpture’ as ‘idol’ are remaining in illusion as the country’s Alem society and Islamic scholars have already repeatedly cleared it that sculptures and idols are not the same.

“Islam is our religion. As per the rules and regulations of the religion, there is no scope to make exaggeration on any religious issue. Creating debates on religious issue has been discouraged in Islam,” he said.

About the comments of dragging down the sculpture of Bangabandhu by some religious leaders, he said such arrogant and indecent comments raise questions in the people’s mind about their religious practice and knowledge.

He called upon the people to practice true Islam and refrain from doing excess over religion and creating political issue centering religion.