DHAKA: Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Sunday said the country’s alem-ulama (Islamic scholars) would no longer be able to cheat mothers over taking family planning by issuing ‘fatwa’.

Nasim was addressing a program tilted “Lunching Ceremony of Update Union Heath & Family Welfare Center Operation Manual & Experience Sharing on 24/7 Safe Delivery Initiative at UH&FWCs –WATCH Project” at a city.

The minister said, “Family Planning department’s employees are working at the filed level creating awareness among the mothers.”

He added: “Once a time, alem-ulama used to give fatwa about the planning. For this reason, women avoided taking the family planning.”

The ruling Awami League lawmaker also observed: “Time has changed now and rural women cannot be barred by issued the fatwa at this time.”

Department of Family Panning and Plan International jointly organized the program.

BDST: 1755 HRS, JUN 08, 2014