Islamic bodies raise some objections

Terming secularism irreligious, Islami Shikkha Rakkha Jaitya Committee, a forum of Islamic organisations, yesterday said most pious Muslims in the country are concerned about some issues in the draft education policy.

"There is nothing called secularism in the world. It's a vague term that refers to irreligious beliefs," said committee convener Maulana Muhiuddin Khan at a views-exchange meeting with the education minister on the draft education policy.

The committee demanded replacing the words "secular and gonomukhi (people-oriented)" with 'religious values and employment-oriented (karmamukhi)' in the policy.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the government would not keep anything in the education policy that go against Islam, madrasa education or religious values.

He said madrasa education, which has a long glorious past, would be modernised.

A 25-member delegation of the committee submitted to the minister a set of recommendations that include replacing the word "sense of secularism" with "piety and sense of morality" in the policy.

The committee leaders also suggested replacing "introduction to four main religions in Bangladesh" with "introduction to own religion" in chapter-7 of the policy.

They also proposed keeping primary education up to class five, inclusion of basic education on religions of all faiths from class one and providing salaries, allowances and other facilities to teachers at independent Ibtedai madrasa and establishing Islami Arabic University.

The committee leaders also proposed excluding Lalitkala from the policy, claiming it goes against the religious values of the majority of people.

They suggested replacing Lalitkala with "religion and moral education" in class one and two and, "health science" from class three to eight as additional subjects.

The recent speeches of the chief of education policy formulation committee has hurt the sentiment of the people, said Muhiuddin Khan, also vice chairman of Islami Oikya Jote.

"The people of this country are extremely annoyed at the remarks," he said.

The committee convener however said they believe that a certain quarter is trying to portray the government's effort in a bad light.

Committee member AFM Khalid Hossain claimed madrasa education is a specialised form of learning. There would be problems if any attempt is made to modernise it, he added.

The minister said they will consider all opinions with due importance before finalising the policy by December.

Committee Member Secretary Maulana Muhammad Azizul Haque Murad also spoke.