Jamaat MP says 'no' to Gita recitation at Independence Day event in Rajshahi

Professor Mujibur Rahman, MP for Rajshahi-1 (Tanoor-Godagari) constituency and Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has been accused of ordering not to recite the Gita at an event organized to mark the Independence Day of Bangladesh. However, ignoring that instruction, Tanor Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Naima Khan completed the event as per state rules.

The UNO said that a few days ago, the MP ordered her to recite only the Quran and not to recite the Gita. She also confirmed this to journalists.

Earlier, the UNO raised the issue at a meeting held at the Tanor Upazila Conference Room on March 25 to mark Genocide Day. Upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Alamgir Hossain and local political leaders were present at the meeting.

At that time, the UNO wanted to know whether the Gita recitation would be stopped as per the MP's instruction. In response, the Upazila Jamaat Amir said that the program should be conducted according to state rules.

The next day, the Gita was also recited along with the Quran recitation at the March 26 program.

However, denying the allegations, Upazila Jamaat Amir Maulana Alamgir Hossain said that the MP had commented on religious programs and did not ban the recitation of the Gita at the Independence Day program.

MP Professor Mujibur Rahman was contacted on his mobile number several times to get his statement on this matter, but he did not respond.

On the other hand, UNO Naima Khan said that the state program was conducted according to state rules. Therefore, the Independence Day program was completed by reciting the Gita along with the Quran recitation.