Hefajat hails PM
Hefazat-e-Islam Nayeb-e Ameer Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury yesterday praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for recognising certificates of Dawra-e Hadith exams of Qawmi Madrasa as equivalent to Master's degree.
He also lashed out at the critics of the government move and termed them "anti-islam".
"Some secular persons, organisations and a section of the media are raising a hue and cry about the recognition. We strongly condemn them," the Hefazat leader said at a press conference at Jamiyatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa in the port city.
Izharul also stressed that there was no scope for being "affected by secular cultural thoughts" and diverting the "revolutionary step in a different direction through illogical propaganda."
Opponents of the government decision have been pointing out that Qawmi madrasas run without any government monitoring, supervision or support and they are mostly dependent on private donations.
The critics have also been saying that the madrasas don't teach science, social science, maths and literature. Only a handful of Qawmi madrasas teach Bangla and English up to class-VIII.
"We thank the government," Izharul said at yesterday's press conference. He, however, added: "There is no scope for falling victim to political interests of the ruling party."
The government on April 14 issued a circular, recognising Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to Master's degree in Islamic Studies or Arabic.
The circular was issued two days after Hasina announced the recognition of the certificate of the highest degree awarded by Qawmi madrasas.
The recognition of Qawmi certificates is, in fact, "recognising the largest social force of the country," Izharul said.
He also expressed concern that religious studies in the Aliya madrasas, which were registered with and supervised by Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board, were "shrinking" in the name of modernisation of that education system.
There are almost 85 lakh students in the country's 48,000 Qawmi madrasas, he said, claiming that India and Pakistan governments recognised Qawmi certificates long ago.
However, according to last year's report of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, some 14 lakh students studied in about 14,000 Qawmi madrasas.
In a statement issued yesterday evening, Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari reiterated his demand for immediate removal of a sculpture installed in front of the country's apex court.
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