A national Quran recitation competition is going to be held for the first time in collaboration with Baitul Mukarram National Mosque to recognise the talent on the occasion of holy month of Ramadan.
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Musalli Committee will organise the mega Islamic reality show styled ‘Quraner Noor’ with technical support of Bashundhara Group.
Any Hafiz, aged below 15, can participate in the competition, which will begin soon, organisers told a press briefing at the Baitul Mukarram office of Islamic Foundation in the capital on Wednesday.
However, no winner of an international Quran competition will be able to take part in the competition.
The country has been divided into 11 regions for holding the competition in a smooth manner, they said.
Bashundhara Group, the leading industrial conglomerate of the country, is patronising the nationwide programme for recognising the unsung Quranic talent.
Daily Sun, Kaler Kantho, Bangladesh Pratidin, Banglanews24 and Radio Capital are the media partners of the nationwide competition.
Musalli Committee Chief Adviser and Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir was present at the press conference.
The recorded programme will be aired on News24 television channel from the first day of Ramadan and video features on the participants will be streamed on YouTube.
Noted Islamic scholar Shaykh Qari Ahmad Bin Yusuf Al Azhari, Baitul Mukarram Khatib Mufti Ruhul Amin, Pesh Imam Mufti Maulana Muhammad Muhibullahil Baki, Maulana Mizanur Rahman, Mufti Ehsanul Haque Jilani and Maulana Mohiuddin Kashemi were present at the press conference at guests of honour.
Musalli Committee President Eakub Ali and Senior Vice-President Gulzar Ahmed spoke at the press conference moderated by General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Manik.
Eakub Ali said the competition will be organised dividing the country into 11 regions to bring the talent from the grassroots to the national level.
“Top 45 contestants will participate in the second round of the competition. A panel comprised of noted Islamic scholars will shortlist the top finalists from the round. The champion of the competition will be awarded Tk 1 million,” he said.
Pesh Imam Mufti Maulana Muhammad Muhibullahil Baki appreciated Bashundhara Group for its decision to use the name of the group after the title of the competition to show respect to the holy book.
“I would like to mention another specialty of the media outlets under the conglomerate. News24 telecasts Islamic programme without any break. It helps scholars share religious knowledge without any interruption of commercials. Other channels can follow News24 television while running Islamic programmes,” he said.
Gulzar Ahmed expressed gratitude to the Bashundhara Group Managing Director for extending support for devotees of the national mosque.
“Some 86 devotees have performed Umrah as our chief adviser pledged to support 104 devotees, who can’t afford to perform the Islamic rituals. We hope to complete the phase within next week. Sayem Sobhan Anvir pledged support for another 500 devotees to perform Umrah and traditional hajj. Let’s pray for his prosperity,” he said.
Gulzar informed the meeting that Musalli Committee will arrange iftar for 60,000 devotees at the national mosque during Ramadan this year with support from Chief Adviser Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
