Islamic Foundation Bangladesh

Infobox Organization
name= Islamic Foundation Bangladesh


image_border=
size=
caption= Baitul Mukarram mosque, the original home of IFB


msize=
mcaption=
motto=
formation= 1975
extinction=
type= Islamic education, research and activities
headquarters= Agargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
location= Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
membership=
language= Bengali, English, Arabic
leader_title= Director General
leader_name= Mohammad Fazlur Rahman
key_people=
num_staff= 1412
budget=
website=

Islamic Foundation Bangladesh is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Bangladesh working to disseminate values and ideals of Islam and carry out activities related to those values and ideals.Syed Mohammed Shah Amran and Syed Ashraf Ali, [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/I_0116.htm Islamic Foundation Bangladesh] , Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka; "Retrieved: 2007-12-25"] [http://www.bangladeshdir.com/webs/catalog/175/index.html Islamic Foundation] , Bangladesh Directory; "Retrieved: 2007-12-25"] The Head Office of the Foundation is in Dhaka, which is supported by 6 divisional offices and 58 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, Bangladesh to propagate the teachings and following of Islam. The Baitul Mukarram Society built the Baitul Mukarram (Arabic: بيت المكرّم ; the holy house) mosque and Islamic scholars formed a "Darul Ulum" (Arabic: 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.

In 1972, the Islamic Academy was briefly banned for alleged support for the Pakistani Army against the Awami League.cite web
last = Raman
first = B.
date = 2006-08-29
url = http://www.saag.org/papers3/paper232.html
title = Mujib and Islam
format = PHP
accessdate = 2006-08-29] The Academy has been blamed for working to Islamize politics in Bangladesh.

On 22 March 1975, the Baitul Mukarram Society and the Islamic Academy were integrated into one the Islamic Foundation through an ordinance that led to the Islamic Foundation Act promulgated on 28 March 1975. The head office of the Foundation was located initially at a building adjacent to the Baitul Mukarram mosque. On 20-22 March 1978, the Foundation drew the attention of the Muslim world when it organized a seminar at Dhaka on human and natural resources in the Islamic countries. The seminar was sponsored by the OIC and attended by representatives of 16 countries including Bangladesh. In 1979-80, development of the Foundation got a new momentum. In 1999, the head office was shifted to its own premises in the Agargaon area of Dhaka.

Aims and activities

According to the Islamic Foundation Act, the aims and objectives of the organisation are: [The Islamic Foundation Act 1975 (Act XVII of 1975)]
* To set up, manage and maintain mosques, Islamic centres, academies and institutes
* To conduct research on the role of Islam in culture, science, and civilization
* To help disseminate Islamic ideals regarding world fraternity, tolerance and justice
* To promote studies on Islamic history, philosophy, culture, laws and judiciary
* To publish books and magazines on these subjects
* To organize conferences, lectures, debates, seminars and symposiums
* To introduce and award prizes in recognition of outstanding contributions to different fields of Islam
* To develop projects on subjects related to Islam and extend support to other such projects
* To provide scholarships to researchers for studies on Islam
* To take care of management and development of the Baitul Mukarram Mosque
* To undertake any other activities that are in line with the above aims and objectives.

References

External links

* [http://www.islamicfoundation.org.bd/about_ifb.htm Islamic Foundation Bangladesh Official Website]
* [http://www.mora.gov.bd/ Ministry of religious Affairs, Bangladesh]