Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur urges Islamic clerics to lead Bangladesh alongside mosques

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has expressed hope that the country’s Islamic scholars, known as Ulama, will provide leadership not only in mosques but also in national affairs. On Saturday, he said involvement of ulama in societal governance could “eliminate” all forms of malpractices from the country. Rejecting division of the nation along religious lines, he said: “According to the latest census, 90.8 percent of the population are Muslims, while the rest are Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. “Yet, we oppose dividing the nation on religious grounds. We envision a united Bangladesh.” He highlighted the country’s long-standing communal harmony during an address at an Islamic gathering in Dhaka’s Moghbazar. “Bangladesh has been home to Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians living together for...