President calls upon Imams to preach life-oriented Khutba

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug 6 (BSS)-Bangladesh President Professor Dr
Iajuddin Ahmed today called upon the Imams and Khatibs to highlight the importance of life-oriented education particularly practical and
technological knowledge in the Jumma Khutba (weekly religious
sermons) side by side providing religious education to the devotees.
"We have to keep in mind that there is no conflict between
Islam and science. Besides, there is no scope of lagging behind
in the world of science and technology in the present era of
globalization," he added.
The President made the call while addressing the National
Imam Conference-2008 organised by Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh
(IFB) at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.
Law, Justice and Religious Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Ariff
addressed the conference as the special guest. Religious Affairs
Secretary Muhammad Ataur Rahman and director general of IFB
Mohammad Fazlur Rahman also addressed on the occasion.
The President distributed crests and cheques among four
Alems at national level and 18 Alems at divisional level, who
received training from the IFB, at the function for their
extraordinary performance.
He said Islam is a religion of peace and humanity and
Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country with an excellent
religious harmony where people tied with the bonds of equality
and fraternity.
"Islam never indulges in terrorism, injustice, repression
and anarchy and humanity is exposed to unjust, oppression and
repression in the absence of it," he said.
The President said the Holy Quran gives utmost importance to
Acquiring knowledge, but it is regrettable we the Muslims kept
ourselves aloof from following this imperative. "In most of
Muslim countries, the rate of literacy is alarmingly poor," he
added.
Professor Iajuddin also called for keeping our conscience
always alive and working unitedly for the development of our
loving motherland.
"Conscience is the biggest vanguard of human being and it
develops through moral and humanistic education. I believe a man
enlightened with moral and religious values never can involve in
unfair activities," he said.
"We want a knowledge-based society enriched with moral
values, which would contribute to build a prosperous nation by
remaining firm in truth and justice," he said.
The President praised the IFB for its training programme and
expressed the hope that this would help building religious
leadership in society side by side contributing to the country's
socio-economic development.