Want to establish Islamic university

Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan announced on Saturday that an Islamic university will be established to facilitate Islamic education and research in the country.

He also urged Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir to take initiative to this end.

“I wish Hon’ble Managing Director of Bashundhara Group and Baitul Mukarram to jointly put efforts to establish an Islamic university. Many hafezes and students will obtain higher degree from the university and bring laurels for the country,” he said  while addressing an award-giving ceremony at a contest on the holy Quran recitation titled Quraner Noor.

Powered by Bashundhara Group, the event was held at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.

Lauding the little hafezes, the Bashundhara Group Chairman said that they would prove globally the strong footing of Bengali and Bangladeshi Muslims.

“They will show the pillar of Islam in the country getting stronger. Please pray for us so that Bashundhara Group can establish an Islamic University,” he said.

He announced allocation of a piece of land for establishment of the university with world standard.

Ahmed Akbar Sobhan also disclosed a plan to set up Mecca-Medina modelled graveyard on 105 bighas of land in Bashundhara Residential Area in Dhaka.

“Pray for us so that Allah gives us the ability to construct a graveyard following a model of Mecca-Medina,” he said.

Praising Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Musallis for organising a disciplined programme, he said he had ever seen such a disciplined programme like this in his life.

“There is a pin-drop silence in the hall room. We are overwhelmed with the sweet voices of the contestants. Recitations of the holy Quran by them have made us spellbound. Only experts can differentiate their qualities,” he said.

Hoping the Quraner Noor event to be spread every corner of the country and abroad every year, he opined for starting the event on February 9 every year, the date for launching journey of this contest.

About continuation of this contest, he said, “I will request the Bashundhara Group Managing Director to ensure the start of this contest on February 9 every year. As long as Bashundhara Group and Baitul Mukarram National Mosque exist, this programme will continue.”

“It is a matter of pride to see Islam so beautiful, so calm and so disciplined. Around 2,000 people are present at this venue. All of us are listening to the sweet recitations of the hafezes. We are also paying heed to the speeches of the scholars,” he said.

The Bashundhara Group Chairman also stressed the need for raising the number of winners to 15 from eight.

“The contestants hailed from all districts facing much trouble. I would request the Bashundhara Group Managing Director to raise the number of awardees to 15. They came from every district overcoming many hurdles.”

Quraner Noor got publicity at home and abroad, he said, adding that little boys have done a great job by memorising the Quran.

“It is published through this programme that eight, nine and 10 year boys memorised Quran. They will preserve the Quran in future,” he said.

He requested the scholars and alims to take initiative and encourage the hafezes to memorise the Quran in Bengali apart from Arabic so that they can understand of meaning and go a long way with the knowledge.

About little hafezes, he said, “Please pray for us. Pray for little hafezes so that they can economically gain and achieve comprehensive knowledge of Quran.”

Nearly 35 years ago, Mufti Abdur Rahman established Islamic Research Centre which gave birth to thousands of Islamic scholars.

“When Mufti Abdur Rahman established Islamic Research Centre, I could not understand its significance.  But the centre created many Alims.”

Expressing his gratitude to Almighty Allah for smoothly holding the competition, Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir announced that they will organise the competition internationally from Bangladesh in future. “Please pray for us so that we can arrange it successfully,” he said.

“I hope the Quranic talents will brighten the image of Bangladesh internationally through such competition. They’ll achieve new success in future inshahallah. I think Islam means peace, humanity," he said.

Sayem Sobhan Anvir, also Chief Adviser of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Musalli Committee, promised to spread the message of the Quran across the world through this competition.