Bangladesh is building more than 500 mosques across country to spread message of Islam Mosques have wide-ranging facilities, including for imam training, religious education DHAKA: The imam of the Prophet’s Mosque on Monday pledged support for Bangladesh’s efforts to spread the message of Islam as he addressed a national imam conference in Dhaka. Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi government has been working to spread the message of Islam, including by building mosques and Islamic cultural centers across the country, where more than 91 percent of its population are Muslims. The premier inaugurated 50 new mosques on Monday during the 2023 National Imam Conference in the Bangladeshi capital. The event was also attended by the imam of Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, Shaykh Dr. Abdullah ibn Abdur Rahman Al-Bu’ayjan, who was visiting from Madinah. “I believe Bangladesh has also joined the efforts of spreading the spirit and knowledge of Islam, which is currently underway under the leadership of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” Al-Bu’ayjan said during the conference. “I hope she (Hasina) will take more initiatives for spreading the message of Islam, Qur’an, and the Arabic language. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will assist in this endeavor.” Bangladesh will build a total of 564 mosques in different parts of the country, Hasina said, adding that 300 have so far been built. “Today, in the sixth phase, 50 more mosques are going to be inaugurated. These model mosques will also have the facilities for imams’ training, religious education, Islamic research, et cetera,” Hasina said, addressing the conference. “I thank the king of Saudi Arabia, the custodian of the two holy mosques, and the crown prince, as they always helped us and stood beside us.” She also urged all the country’s imams to “uphold the true spirit of Islam.” Hasina said: “Islam is a religion of peace. It’s the best religion in the world. We want people to live here peacefully. We want to build a developed and prosperous nation.”