Bangladesh
Bangabandhu Sculpture Sculptures and idols are not same: Haqqani Islamic scholar leaders
Dhaka, December 14: Leaders of the Haqqani scholar community say it is not right to spread provocative statements among people by calling the sculpture an idol, because, a sculpture is an ancient art form of people and an idol is meant for worship.
Reading a written statement at a press conference at the National Press Club on Sunday, Haqqani scholar Md. Ilyas Ibrahim Bikrampuri said that apart from religious activities, every nation has its own culture and even Arabs have their own culture. Similarly, as a Bengali nation, our own culture and sculpture are being built as part of art, culture, history and heritage.
In the statement, he said there have been many sculptures in Bangladesh over the years, including Ziaur Rahman, but no one has spoken out to remove or demolish the sculptures. Now, some people suddenly want to create anarchy in the society by opposing the construction of Bangabandhu's sculpture.
Those who are now issuing fatwas (Islamic injunctions) against the sculpture of Bangabandhu called the freedom fighters atheists and infidels during the liberation war of 1971.
The statement further said that these people once issued fatwas against watching television and learning English but later these were proved to be valid from a religious point of view.
The Haqqani community has urged the people not to be misled by the provocative speeches of those who want to create unrest in the country using the religious sentiments of the people.
Md. Imran Hossain, Md. Hafizul Haque, Md. Lokman Hossain Saifi and Solaiman bin Kashemi were present at the press conference.
