Islamic Practice and Da’wah Circle (IPDC) is a social organisation that has been successfully operating for more than two decades and persistently working for Muslims’ educational and social development.
The opening ceremony of the IPDC’s AGM 2022 was held on Saturday morning, October 8, 2022, at the Australian Light Foundation in Melbourne. Many Australian federal and state politicians, religious leaders and social workers attended the ceremony in person or over zoom and highlighted the contributions and various potentials of the Muslim community in this country and wished every success of IPDC as a social and religious organisation.
On the day, the ceremony started at 10 am Melbourne time with a recitation from the Holy Quran. Sheikh Akram Buksh, Imam of Brisbane’s Slacks Creek Mosque, recited from Surah Qaf of the Holy Quran.
Dr Mohammad Moniruzzaman, General Secretary of IPDC emceed the opening session. Central president of IPDC, Dr Rafiqul Islam, presented the opening speech. In his speech, Dr Islam mentioned that the current world is going through a dire and growing spiritual crisis, and Australia is no exception. Mental illness and domestic violence are increasing everywhere. According to the recent census, “no religion” is an increasing trend. However, it is the religious belief that can implement appropriate solutions to the current world problem, and IPDC is working relentlessly towards that goal. He also thanked the guests and the well-wishers for their presence at the event and extraordinary support to IPDC.
After the central president’s speech, a short video was presented showing IPDC’s two-decade-long activities and its current multi-dimensional activities in mosques and community centres across Australia.
For the AGM, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations sent a congratulatory message presented by his representative, Councillor Karl Saleh. In the message, he praised IPDC’s social contribution and expressed his hope that the positive role of IPDC will continue in future in the social service of Australia.
In a video message, the Hon Andrew Giles MP, Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, praised IPDC’s various activities in the education sector, social services, and human resource development in the different cities of Australia.
The Hon. Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, also sent a video message thanking every IPDC leader, volunteer, and member, and saying that such social organisations play a role in making the state socially stronger and a more accepting place.
Dr Daniel Mulino MP, Federal Member for Fraser was present during the AGM opening session. In his speech, he mentioned about the importance of maintaining this country’s commitment to multiculturalism despite the various political differences.
During the session, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Fatima Payman, Senator for WA, Senator David Shoebridge, Senator for NSW, and Christopher John MINNS MP, Leader of the opposition, NSW also delivered their video speech.
Dr Anne Aly MP mentioned that IPDC’s contribution to the Muslim community, especially in the field of education, is very important.
Senator Payman thanked IPDC in her speech while talking about her own experience in Australia as a young Muslim senator and mentioned about the importance of the participation of Muslim community members in mainstream Australian society.
In his welcome speech, Senator Shoebridge said that he believed in the politics of service and development for all sections of the society and that the contribution of organisations like IPDC would be very important in that political practice.
The NSW Opposition Leader Christopher John mentioned that IPDC’s vision and mission was contributing to the development of the Muslim community as well as the wider Australian community.
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Sarah Connolly MP said in her speech that as an MP for Tarneit, one of the most multicultural areas in the country, she had the opportunity to closely observe the Muslim community. She grew up in an area of Queensland that was not as diverse. Referring to her Irish-Catholic family heritage, she emphasised about the importance of such experience of multicultural diversity for a person. She talked about the love and hospitality she had received while she was invited to the mosques and Ramadan Iftar programs.
The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, in his speech prayed for IPDC and said that one of the basic principles of Islam was to serve the humanity, to like for others what a person would like for himself. Social organisations such as IPDC is practising such principle which is in fact an implementation of the Sunnah of Rasul (SAW).
Viv Nguyen AM, chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, said that there is no alternative to moving forward with the people of more than three hundred races and languages and two hundred religions for the future prosperity of this country and that requires a sincere effort to strengthen social harmony.
Senator Janet Rice’s representative and Australian Greens leader, Bernadette Thomas in her speech commended IPDC for its many voluntary roles during the Covid pandemic. Victoria’s Multicultural Affairs Minister Ross Spence MP and former Senator Lee Rhiannon sent video messages to congratulate the AGM.
Other distinguished speakers of the AGM opening session were Australian National Imam Council (ANIC) President Sheikh Shadi AlSuleiman, MCCA Chairman Prof. Akhtar Kalam, Board of Imams Victoria representatives Imam Muhammad Nawas Saleem and Imam Moustapha Sarakibi, Islamic Council of Victoria President Adel Salman, Tarneit Labor leader Dylan Wight.
After the welcome speeches, the guests enjoyed a lovely cultural performance by the Little Muslim team of IPDC. The team’s performance of Islamic nasheed attained deep appreciation from the audience. Finally, IPDC’s Central Vice President Engineer Monir Hossain concluded the opening session by thanking all the guests, well-wishers, IPDC members and organisers.
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