Minister Kaikobad Welcomes Saudi Quran Contest Winners

Four Bangladeshi Quran memorisers achieved remarkable success at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Quran Memorisation Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, with all four national representatives taking first place. Senior representatives from the Islamic Foundation and the Ministry of Religious Affairs gave the team a cordial formal welcome when they arrived back in Dhaka on Friday on a Saudia Airlines aircraft that landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Muhammad Zakaria won first place in the male division of the competition’s fourth group and was awarded 150,000 Saudi Riyals in cash. In the same group, Rabeta Binte Ramzan received 130,000 Saudi Riyals for placing third in the female category. Sheikh Muhammad Mahmudul Hasan and Musfira Binte Mahmud, who each received 130,000 Saudi Riyals, finished third in the third group’s male and female divisions, respectively.

The Islamic Foundation chose and sent the winning Hafezes to the esteemed event, representing a variety of Islamic organisations in Dhaka and Narayanganj. At a grand concluding event on Wednesday at the prestigious Mosque in Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishal, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, formally handed the prizes. Fifty competitors were honoured in five different categories.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaikobad) praised the winners, calling it a time of great national pride that highlights Bangladesh’s long history of Quranic greatness. The minister confirmed preparations to formally host and honour the four young students in his ministry office soon, despite the fact that health concerns prevented him from meeting the group in person at the airport.