News Flash
DHAKA, Nov 23, 2025 (BSS)- BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said that his party has never compromised on the core principles of Islam and will not do so in the future.
"BNP has never compromised on the core principles or fundamental beliefs of Islam and we will not do so in the future, Insha'Allah," he said.
Tarique Rahman said this while addressing as the chief guest the National Conference of Sammilito Imam-Khatib Parishad at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
Tarique Rahman said BNP has always been in favor of Islamic culture and always been vocal against any subversive activities that are against the interests of Islam and Muslims.
“The failed, defeated, and fugitive autocracy attempted to undermine Islam, Muslims, and Islamic culture in various ways within the state and society," he said.
He pointed out that the initiative to grant Master's degree equivalence to the highest degree (Dawra-e-Hadith or Takmil certificate) of Qawmi Madrasa students was taken during the government of Begum Khaleda Zia in 2006 considering the importance of certificates for any profession or job.
He also noted the vast network of religious institutions in the country. Currently, there are over 5,000 Madrasas of various levels across the country, including Qawmi, Alia, public, private, registered, and unregistered institutions, with millions of students studying in them, he said.
He added, the total number of mosques nationwide, under both public and private management, is approximately 3.5 lakh (350,000) or slightly more. These mosques employ around 17 lakh (1.7 million) Imams, Khatibs, and Muazzins who perform religious duties.
Achieving sustainable development is impossible if millions of mosques, madrasas, Imams, Muazzins, and madrasa students are kept outside the state's progress-oriented activities. Based on this reality, BNP has adopted specific action plans in its future programmes, Tarique Rahman said.
He criticized the manner in which the Constitution was drafted in the post-independence period saying, "the party of the failed, defeated, and fugitive autocrat, who assumed state power after the independence of Bangladesh, drafted the Constitution according to their own will without reflecting the aspirations of the majority of the country's population at that time."
Tarique Rahman highlighted that the founder of the BNP and the Proclaimer of Bangladesh's Independence Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman upon taking charge of the state, included 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim' in the Constitution.
“President Ziaur Rahman also included the principle of 'Absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah' in the Constitution. But, the clause has been dropped in the constitution,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said he deems the demands of Imams and Khatibs including formulation of Service Rules for Imams, Khatibs, and Muazzins are extremely logical. There is every opportunity to fulfill several of your presented demands on a priority basis," he said.
Tarique Rahman said, “The job of an Imam or Muazzin depends on the whims of the Mosque Committee. I believe this should not be the case; it cannot be. Insha'Allah, by the grace of Allah, if the BNP gets the opportunity to govern the state, the BNP government will prioritize the initiative to formulate the Service Rules. The BNP government will certainly take effective steps to implement the other demands also."
He stated that BNP believes it is the responsibility of the state to provide necessary financial assistance to Imams, Khatibs, and Muazzins, who serve as social reformers.
BNP has a plan to provide monthly honorarium to Imams and Muazzins who are facing financial hardship, he said.
