‘Fatwa required to combat militancy’

Speakers at a view-exchange meeting today said fatwa (religious edict) was needed to curb militant activities in the country.

A group of the country's Olamas (Islamic clerics) proposed this at the meeting organised by Bangladesh Police at its headquarters in the capital, where Maulana Farid Uddin announced that one lakh Islamic scholars from across the country will sign the fatwa.

Farid, who conducts Asia’s largest Eid prayers, said collecting signatures from three lakh Imams and six lakh muezzins will not be difficult.

He also urged the law enforcers to investigate the involvement of masjid committee members with the militant activities across the country.

Police welcomed the proposal and said it would be launched if the country’s Olamas are interested.

However, anyone who writes against religious views will face trial under the existing laws, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque.

The view-exchange meeting was organised against the backdrop of persistent attacks on freethinkers, publishers and foreigners.

The IGP requested the Islamic scholars to launch a counter campaign against the people misinterpreting Islam and pushing people towards militancy, bombings and killings similar to that of the Kantaji temple in Dinajpur which left 10 injured on December 5.

Global terror outfit Islamic State (IS) claimed to have carried out the attacks through its local offshoots, though the claims could not be verified independently.