Islam doesn't support militancy

At Dhaka Metropolitan Police's request, imams of different mosques in the capital yesterday gave sermons during Juma prayers, alerting the mosque-goers to the menace of militancy and criminal activities.

They talked about the negative impact of militancy on the society and requested all to be aware of the people involved in militant and criminal activities. 

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"There is no space for militancy and terrorism in Islam,” said imam of Tejgaon College Hostel Mosque while delivering a sermon.

Reading out a letter he received from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, the imam urged the worshippers to help police by providing them with information on those linked with militant and criminal activities.

He also called upon them to give police information about drug addicts living in their localities.

In his address, another imam at a mosque in Tejgaon's Monipuripara echoed the same view while reading out a letter he got from the local police.

In the last couple of months, suspected militants carried out several attacks in and around the capital, killing at least five people, including two policemen, and injuring over hundred others.

Detectives have arrested at least seven Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leaders and activists suspecting their involvement in the attacks.

The law enforcement agencies believe that militancy cannot be dealt with only by arresting militants. Rather, the problem needs to be addressed through involving people and giving right explanations of religion.

There had already been a request for imams to deliver speech on religious harmony and against terrorist and militant activities, said Muntasirul Islam, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The imams were again asked to do so after the attack on a Shia mosque in Bogra, he added.