Islamic Foundation Bangladesh ( bn, ইসলামিক ফাউন্ডেশন বাংলাদেশ) is a government organization under the '' Ministry of Religious Affairs'' in

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

working to disseminate values and ideals of Islam and carry out activities related to those values and ideals. The head office of the foundation is in Dhaka, which is supported by 6 divisional offices and 64 district offices, as well as 7 Imam Training Academy Centers and 29 Islamic Mission Centers. The director general is the chief executive of the foundation.

History

In 1959, two organizations were formed in

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city i ...

to propagate the teachings and following of Islam. The Baitul Mukarram Society built the Baitul Mukarram ( ar, بيت المكرّم; the holy house) mosque and Islamic scholars formed a '' Darul Ulum'' ( ar, دار العلوم; house of knowledge) to popularize and research on Islamic philosophy, culture and way of life. In 1960, the Darul Ulum was renamed as Islamic Academy and was made a branch of ''Central Institute of Islamic Research'' based in Karachi. The current organization came into effect in 1974, when

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( bn, শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান; 17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975), often shortened as Sheikh Mujib or Mujib and widely known as Bangabandhu (meaning ''Friend of Bengal''), was a Bengali politi ...

formally inaugurated as the Islamic Foundation. On 20–22 March 1978, the foundation organized a seminar sponsored by the OIC and attended by representatives of 16 countries including Bangladesh. In 1979–80, development of the foundation got a new momentum.

Controversy

In 2015, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh issued a fatwa banning the use of chairs for elderly worshipers in mosques. The head of the foundation, Shamim Afzal told Agence France-Presse, "There are no instances of the Prophet praying while sitting on a chair," despite numerous

hadith Ḥadīth ( or ; ar, حديث, , , , , , , literally "talk" or "discourse") or Athar ( ar, أثر, , literally "remnant"/"effect") refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approva ...

s contradicting this claim. He added that "chairs spoiled the beauty of the mosques." Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Rajshahi

This led to outrage and protest from more erudite

ulema In Islam, the ''ulama'' (; ar, علماء ', singular ', "scholar", literally "the learned ones", also spelled ''ulema''; feminine: ''alimah'' ingularand ''aalimath'' lural are the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious ...

, who termed it "an incorrect and exaggerated decision." The

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina Wazed (''née'' Sheikh Hasina ; ; bn, শেখ হাসিনা ওয়াজেদ, Shēkh Hasinā, , born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh since January 2 ...

issued a statement that she was "stunned" by such a fatwa, terming it incorrect. She added that she herself offered prayers in chairs during flights.

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.islamicfoundation.gov.bd
Ministry of religious Affairs, Bangladesh
Islamic organisations based in Bangladesh

History

Controversy

See also

References

External links