Stand up against militancy and terrorism, Hasina to Islamic scholars

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the hajj pilgrims and Alem-Ulema (Islamic scholars) to contribute in building a modern and knowledge-based developed nation by keeping the children away from militancy and terrorism.

The premier made this call while inaugurating the Hajj Programme-2023 (1444 Hijri) at the Hajji Office in the capital's Ashkona area as the chief guest.

She said Islam is a religion of peace and Islam ensures the rights of people. "Those who are involved with militancy and terrorism they have no religion," she added.

Hasina urged the hajj pilgrims to pray that Bangladesh and its people are protected from any man-made or natural disaster. She also asked them to pray that the development and the current progress of Bangladesh would continue in the future.

The first hajj flight is scheduled to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia at 2:45am tomorrow.

This year, a total of 122,221 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform the hajj. The number of hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh was 57,585 last year due to the Covid-19 restriction.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed hajj in 2019.

The Hajj is expected to be held on June 27 depending on the sighting of the moon.