<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Describing Islam as a religion of peace, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the people not to do anything that goes against the religious sentiments.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">“No one should do anything - like taking to in alcohol, gambling, corruption, terrorism and militancy -- that hurts our religious sentiments,” she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier said this while opening the hajj programme 2024 (1445 hijri) in the capital’s Ashkona area. The first hajj flight is scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, reports UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said Islam is a sacred religion that has ensured the rights of the people of all classes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is very unfortunate that a handful of people would earn a bad name for Islam by carrying out militancy.&nbsp; "I always protest it," she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The PM said the people of all religions would continue to enjoy equal rights to follow their respective religion in the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She asked the pilgrims to pray for Bangladesh and its people while performing the holy hajj.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, a total of 85,257 pilgrims from Bangladesh are going to perform the holy hajj. Of them, 4,562 pilgrims will perform hajj under the government management, while 80, 695 pilgrims under the private management.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>