(BSS) – BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that religion should neither be exploited for worldly gains, nor should people be misled with promises of heaven in exchange of votes.

“It is a major responsibility of Alem-Olama to take a clear stand against those who spread confusion in society by exploiting religion. Those who mislead people in the name of religion must be firmly resisted,” he said.

Salahuddin was speaking at a views-exchange meeting with local Islamic scholars (ulema) at Fasiakhali union in Chakaria upazila of the district.

He said people are easily misled when someone speaks in the name of Islam while wearing religious attire.

“When opponents of Islam speak, people can identify them. But when religion itself is used to present wrong interpretations, the confusion becomes deeper. A certain group is doing this deliberately,” he said.

Salahuddin said talking about social welfare, economic prosperity or social dignity merely by invoking Islam, without any realistic plan, is essentially an attempt to use religion for personal or political gain.

He also urged all concerned to follow the electoral code of conduct.
Mufti Enamul Haque presided over the programme attended by imams, muezzins, khatibs and ulema.

Chakaria upazila BNP President Enamul Haque, General Secretary Mobarak Ali, Fasiakhali Union BNP President Kutubuddin, and local mosque imams and khatibs spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Salahuddin Ahmed visited Chakaria and paid homage at the grave of July Movement fighter and Chattogram Division’s first martyr Ahsan Habib.
He later laid the foundation stone for the construction of Chhararkul Madrasa Rahmania Hafezkhana and Orphanage at Fasiakhali.

Before that, he inaugurated a wooden bridge connecting Hajian Ali Para on the Matamuhuri River with Ward No. 9 of Chakaria Municipality from Ward No. 1 of Fasiakhali Union by cutting a ribbon.

Local farmers said that for a long time they had to transport their crops by boat or take long detours, resulting in great losses.

With the construction of the bridge, connectivity between Fasiakhali Ward No. 1 and Chakaria Municipality Ward No. 9 has been established, enabling farmers to sell their vegetables and crops at fair prices.

Locals described the bridge as a milestone in improving communication.
Earlier on Saturday morning, Salahuddin Ahmed inaugurated the former Guldi Pekua Model School and College at Sadar Union of Pekua upazila.
He said before establishing schools, proper surveys must be conducted to determine where schools are actually needed.

“A school does not only mean a big building; the most important thing is quality teachers,” he said, adding that even tin-shed or bamboo-made schools can provide good education if there are capable teachers.
Teachers of various educational institutions, members of school management committees, local administration officials and political leaders were present at the programme.