Claiming that “mob violence” has taken root in the country due to the influence of cultural degeneration, opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said the decline in the practice of indigenous culture has allowed foreign and unhealthy cultural influences to dominate society.

He made the remarks on Friday (September 11) at a Qawwali evening organised by Deshiya Sangskritik Sangsad at the National Museum in Dhaka.

The Jamaat Ameer said every nation has its own culture, but Bangladesh has fallen behind in practising its own cultural traditions. “Unhealthy culture has entered our culture,” he said.

He said if healthy cultural practices are properly developed, they can create a positive cultural environment for a nation. Such culture, he added, represents a combination of knowledge and values.

Earlier, speaking at an award-giving ceremony for a Seerat recitation competition organised by Islami Chhatra Shibir in Ramna, he said the nation is currently facing a severe crisis of moral character.

To overcome the crisis, he said, people must follow the teachings and way of life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).