Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that the expression of faith is culture. Therefore, faith cannot be understood without exploring culture and similarly whatever is done without faith, cannot be defined as culture. Those who forget their own beliefs and culture and follow others’ footsteps, can never progress. So, we have to hold our own faith, culture and roots and subsequently to lead the nation and stand stronger in the global arena.
He said this while addressing as the chief guest at the gathering of poets, writers and artists organized by the Cultural Unity Front at the central Kochi Kachar Mela Auditorium of the capital on 31st August. Jamaat’s central executive council member and Dhaka south city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul was present in the gathering as special guest.
Poet Mosharraf Hossain Khan presided over the program which was hosted by the secretary of Cultural Unity Front, Mahbub Mukul. Among others, Jamaat’s central Majlish-e-Shura member and Nayeb-e-Ameer Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Jamaat’s central working committee member and Dhaka south city Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, central Majlish-e-Shura member and Assistant Secretary of Dhaka south city Jamaat Delawar Hossain and Md. Kamal Hossain addressed the program.
Among the cultural personalities present were Bangladesh Cultural Academy President Abedur Rahman, Kids Creation TV’s CEO Sharif Bayezid Mahmud, Shahitta Sangskritik Kendra President Zakiul Haque Zaki, former President Professor Abu Taher Belal, poet and editor Zakir Abu Zafar, eminent Nazrul Musician Salauddin Ahmed, painter and cartoonist Ibrahim Mandal, Poet Nasir Helal, Shahitta Sangskritik Kendra Assistant Secretary Allama Iqbal, MA Tawhid, Abdur Rahman, Executive Member Tofazzal Hossain, Dhaka Sahittya Kendra President Afsar Nizam, Mahanagar Shilpi Group Director Abu Raihan and various literary and cultural personalities were present in the program.
Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, in Bangladesh, our culture revolves around our faith. Our beloved homeland Bangladesh is a free abode of people of different religions and castes. There is a mixture of diversified people in this country. Here we live in communal harmony. Even after the recent students’ movement, we have seen that no miscreant could destroy the bond of harmony. All the temples, churches of the country have been guarded day and night by the madrasa students and the leaders and workers various Islamic parties. Some offences had been committed only by miscreants. But the vested quarter try to shift the blame of their crimes upon some other people. We need to be culturally resilient to face those terrorists. Recently we have had discussions with people of all religions. We said our identity is Bangladeshi, we all want to live happily and peacefully in Bangladesh.
He also said that poets, writers, artists, journalists are defined as the awakened conscience of the nation. We have high expectations from you. For a long time, there has been a conspiracy to ignore our own faith and culture. But most of the people in every village of Bangladesh are used to living by cherishing Islamic ideals and spirits. It is not easy to eliminate the concepts of Islam and Islamic faith from the people of this country. Islam is deeply rooted in the people of this country. No evil force can uproot it insha Allah.
Nurul Islam Bulbul said, we have to match our culture in light with people’s beliefs and understanding. In this changed context, we need to carry forward the spirit of faith and culture. The cultural arena of this country should be decorated in such a way that this victory of the students can be prolonged and contribute to the welfare of the people. Not only infrastructural development, but efforts should be made also to purify people’s thinking.
Poet Mosharraf Hossain Khan said, we expect Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to continue patronizing the cultural arena by promoting all the poets, writers and artists of the country. Our responsibilities have multiplied manifold with our new independence through mass uprising. We have to achieve the complete victory by ensuring cultural victory along with human values and national responsibility.