Sculpture issue: Delegation of Qawmi clerics, Hefajat leaders meet home minister

A delegation of Qawmi madrasa-based alems (Islamic clerics) and leaders of Hefajat-e-Islam on Monday held a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal regarding the ongoing sculpture issue.

The 12-member delegation, led by Mahmudul Hasan, chairman of Madrasa Education Board (Befaq) and a top Hefajat leader, met the home minister at the latter's residence in the capital on Monday night.

The delegation also included Befaq Secretary General, also a top Hefajat leader, Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, Maulana Farid Uddin Masud and Maulana Ataullah, among others.

Emerging from the meeting at around 11:10pm, a Hefajat leader said it was fruitful, but did not elaborate.

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Wishing anonymity, he also said the home minister will formally announce the outcome of the meeting at his office at the Secretariat today.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was not available over telephone for comments.

Earlier on December 10, Hefajat-e Islam at a press conference in the city had said they wanted dialogue with the government to resolve the ongoing problem centring installation of the sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Qawmi-based madrasa organisation also said the alem (Islamic cleric) community is trying to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on this issue.

Hefajat has recently been speaking against construction of sculpture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, terming it anti-Islamic.

They demanded that the government find an alternative way to show respect to the Father of the Nation.

Several top ministers of the government have been arguing that a sculpture and idol are not the same and there are sculptures in different Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia and Iran.