Vested quarters using Islam to confuse nation

Speakers at a discussion said yesterday said vested quarters who try to establish Islam through destruction and violent movement harming the beauties of Islam, are using religion ahead of the national polls to confuse the nation for grabbing state power in the Muslim-majority country.
They said sculptures have nothing to do against Islam, as people do not hold any sculpture parallel to the status of God and worship in Bangladesh.
Islami Oikya Jote Chairman Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury said, “People who want to establish Islam by exploding bombs or killing people only destroy the beauty of Islam. There is no need to establish Islam through movement, Islam will spread across the country with its own glory.”
Titled 'Sculpture in view of Islam,' the open discussion was arranged by Weekly Bartaman Sanglap, a weekly run by Hakkani Mission Bangladesh, at the National Press Club in the city.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal General Secretary Sayed Zafar Sazzad said, “The mixing of sculptures with idols is nothing but just to pretend that they cannot understand the difference. Theological outlook has nothing to do with this. It is the politics to confuse nation and a way to get personal benefit uttering some cheap slogans.”
Eminent historian Prof Anwar Hossain said, “Islam is not differentiating sculpture and idol, rather feel the presence of Allah in heart and ensure freedom of every religion.”
Referring to some Suras in Qur'an and Hadith regarding the removal of sculptures and the role of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) removing idols from Mecca, he said, “The incidents described in Qur'an and Hadith are context specific. We need to study the Qur'an deeply.”
Referring to Suras, including Hashor and Mayeedah, former general secretary of Duta Dr Akhtaruzzaman said, “The Suras are being used as weapons to incite and confuse people. The prophet (SM) waged a revolution against idolatry in a different context. But Muslim in our country never think sculptures as a symbol to worship.”
The speakers further said that sculptures are the bearers and memoranda of knowledge, culture and heritage of people and land that contributes in evolution of human development.
Economist Dr Mostafa Abdur Rahman, engineer Enamul Haque, Prof Ahsan Ali, Prof Shukomol Barua and Assistant Prof Jubair Md Ehsanul Haque also spoke at the programme.