Impostors do politics under guise of religion: Law Minister

Law Minister Asaduzzaman has said that gundas and impostors engage in politics under the cover of religion. National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam spoke of equality, humanity and secular consciousness, he said. For Nazrul, humans were the greatest truth, not religious divisions.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on the second day of the 127th birth anniversary celebrations of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in Trishal on Sunday evening, May 24.

The law minister said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had granted Nazrul the status of national poet and also played a role in ensuring his burial beside a mosque as per his last wish.

"We also draw inspiration from Rabindranath's literature and music. Nazrul believed that 'above all, humans are the ultimate truth' — there is no religious division here," he added.

He alleged that art, literature and cultural practice had declined in universities and educational institutions at one time, leading the youth towards drugs, arms and gangsterism. These activities were being used politically.

Noting that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is giving utmost importance to the development of education and culture, the law minister said the government wants students to be focused on books, education and culture.

The law minister also spoke about Nazrul's political life. He said the poet of equality and rebellion dreamed of building a secular India. To achieve this goal, he formed a political party called 'Sarasat Party' and contested central legislative assembly elections in India, though he lost due to Congress's deception.

Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam presided over the event, which was also addressed by Textiles and Jute Minister Shariful Alam, Trishal MP Mahbubur Rahman Liton, Divisional Commissioner Farah Shammi and DIG Ataul Kibria, among others.