Lal Masjid
Shafiqul Islam, On e-mail
There is a lesson to learn from the Lal Masjid crisis in Pakistan. The rise of militant outfits like the JMB is an eye opener. The religion based politics, rapid growth of madrassahs, unfounded fatwas issued from some mosques, are the tools of exploitation by so-called religious leaders. We know how some Islamic party leaders brainwash our uneducated rural people through misleading lectures. Our army chief has put forward five conditions to fight corruption. Politics in the name of religion is also 'corruption'. He suggested that the next elected government bring amendments to the Constitution. I suggest that politics in the name of religion be banned forever.My second suggestion is a radical reform of our madrassah education. Our madrassahs teach only religion. The teachers of these madrassahs are not equipped with modern education. The students of these madrassahs know that they don't have any other opening except a job as imam in a mosque or a madrassah teacher. Naturally, they are impressed by the propaganda of the so-called Islamic parties. I strongly feel that our madrassahs should have the same curricula as our schools, along with one compulsory subject called religion. This will help them get admission in different universities. They will not lag behind others. Militancy has grown in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our government should keep a watchful eye on the situation. We Bangladeshis are religious but not biased Muslims.
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