Some speakers at waz mahfil giving indecent speeches on women: CTTC chief
Police will monitor those who made provocative statements in the name of giving sermon at waz mahfils.
Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, made the remark today.
"We have noticed that recently some speakers at waz mahfils are giving indecent speeches on women, rather than discussing the five pillars of Islam," said the CTTC chief.
He was the keynote speaker at a seminar on "The Role of Islamic Scholars in Preventing Violent Extremism" at the Islamic Foundation in Dhaka's Agargaon area.
Yesterday, a Supreme Court lawyer served a legal notice to the authorities concerned, asking for directives on barring Islamic clerics and speakers from delivering speeches containing anti-state or fictional rhetoric at waz mahfils and ensuring that the speeches are not made without textual references to the Holy Quran and Hadith.
Supreme Court Lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan served the legal notice and said he will file a writ petition with the High Court seeking a directive in this regard if measures are not taken within 30 days.
Secretaries to the ministries of religious affairs, home, education and director general of Islamic Foundation have been made respondents to the legal notice.
At today's programme, Monirul Islam further said that anyone who has a clear knowledge of Islam will never be involved in militancy.
"Islamic scholars can make people aware about militancy and drugs by making statements. The role of scholars is to give the correct interpretation of Islam," said Monirul.
Monirul pointed out that there is division among scholars regarding militancy.
He advised everyone, including the Alem (scholars) community, to be vigilant so that incidents like the Holey Artisan Café attack do not happen.
The CTTC chief said since militancy is a matter of ideology, the chances of rehabilitating those who knowingly turn to militancy for political gain are limited.
Efforts will be made to rehabilitate those who naively stepped onto the path of militancy, he said, adding that steps have been taken for counselling in the prisons.
The CTTC chief said there is no presence of Al-Qaeda in Bangladesh, not even a branch. But many are trying to prove the existence of Al-Qaeda in Bangladesh by disseminating propaganda, he added.
Monirul said that militancy has been effectively controlled. At present, there is no risk of any major militant attack in Bangladesh.
However, caution is a must, the CTTC chief advised.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan, Secretary to the Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Nurul Islam and Director General of the Islamic Foundation Anis Mahmud also spoke, among others.
Addressing the seminar, Faridul Haque called scholars to inform people about the evils of militancy before Friday prayers and regularly before prayers at mosques.