A letter with recommendations for transformation in Bangladesh’s Qawmi madrasas has stirred a huge controversy among the top clerics of the country as the Ministry of Home Affairs is scheduled to hold a meeting over the suggestions on Wednesday.
In this situation, Qawmi leaders sat in a meeting to discuss their action plan over the letter at the central office of Al Hayatul Ulaya Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh at 12pm on Saturday.
Maulana Mahmudul Hasan, chairman of the organization, chaired the meeting with the members of the standing committee.
According to the top clerics of Qawmi madrasas, the Ministry of Home Affairs invited the board heads of Qawmi madrasas to a meeting on Wednesday.
A notice signed by Md Shamim Hasan, deputy secretary of the Home Ministry, stated that the leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam were responsible for vandalism in Brahmanbaria on March 26, 27, 28 last year. The meeting will be held in light of the recommendations made in the report of the probe committee and the decision to be made regarding the recommendations of the letter sent by the Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury on June 25.
The letter by Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury made eight recommendations to ensure Qawmi madrasas’ contribution in playing a more effective role in combating militancy, extremism, drug eradication and social degradation. To determine these factors, the meeting will be held in the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs at 11am on Wednesday with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the chair.
Several senior scholars of Qawmi madrasas told Bangla Tribune that Hefazat-e-Islam is a religious organization. There is a board to look after education at Qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh. As such, the letter given to the prime minister on June 25 by Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury is beyond his jurisdiction. As a result, there has been uproar among the top clerics of Qawmi madrasas.
They believed that Mizanur Rahman made such a proposal on the advice of some government representatives.
Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury sent the letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on June 25. In the letter, he made eight recommendations, titled “Attention for the development of Qaumi education and the quality of teachers”.
Recommendations
1. To improve the quality of Qawmi education, you (Prime Minister) recognized Dawrae Hadith (Takmil) certificate in Qawmi madrasa with the status of postgraduate degree and the nation will be grateful to you for enacting a law in this regard. However, the law did not mention the primary stage of Qawmi education. As this matter is not mentioned in the law, the Qawmi education system may face an existential crisis in the future. In this case, it is mandatory to add “where higher education is given, starting from Maktab, Najera, Hefz to Dawrae Hadith and then Ifta, Ulumul Hadith and Tafsir” in the definition of “Qawmi Madrasa” in Section 2(1) of the “Making Dawrae Hadith (Takmil) Certificate in Qawmi Madrasah Equivalent to Master’s Degree (Islamic Studies and Arabic)” Act, 2018.
2. Qawmi education is a specialized system of education. To improve the quality of its teachers and education, it is necessary to ensure subject-based training for every teacher. Establishment of “Qawmi Madrasa Teacher Training Institute” either nationally or on individual initiative.
3. As Qawmi educational institutions are run through public financial assistance, all donations to madrasas need to be exempt from income tax. If circulars are issued in this regard, donors will feel free to donate to Qawmi educational institutions with enthusiasm.
4. Formation of provident fund for teaching staff from madrasa’s own income, regular payment of monthly salary of teachers, providing scholarship to meritorious, orphan and poor students.
5. Construction of model mosques in 460 upazilas at the same time under the initiative of a head of government is a record. Priority should be given to the followers of the Aqeedah of Ahle Sunnat passed from the Qawmi madrasas while appointing imams and khatibs in the mosques and experts from the local Qawmi madrasas should be included in the appointment board to ensure appointment of different ideologies.
6. The relevant authorities should take necessary measures to keep the Qawmi educational campus and the related students, teachers, employees free from all kinds of prevailing politics.
7. Taking necessary measures to manage all communal educational institutions under the purview of Befaq and Al-Haiatul Ulya in the light of its principles to ensure the quality of students’ education.
8. Muhammad Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury believed that if his demands are implemented and every Qawmi educational institution plays an active and responsible role, Qawmi madrasas can contribute a lot for the nation. In addition, the involvement of the ulema of the madrasas at the grassroots level can play a more effective role in preventing militancy, extremism, drug eradication and social degradation.
What Mizanur Rahman says?
When asked about the matter, Mizanur Rahman told Bangla Tribune: “I am working to improve the quality of Qawmi education and teachers. The main reason for the decline in the quality of Qawmi education is that we have not been able to produce qualified teachers. Training is necessary to produce qualified teachers. Otherwise, there will be a shortage of qualified teachers. I am not on any committee of Befaq or Al-Haiatul Ulya. As a result, I didn’t get a chance to present my proposal to them. However, I tried to discuss this issue with the central committee but didn’t get a proper response from them. Finally, I think the prime minister is the one to take initiatives to solve these issues.
“I know that many people will oppose this, especially the people of my area (Qawmi) will do it first. But the quality of education is deteriorating, teachers are not behaving like teachers because they are not well trained. Besides, not every level of Qawmi education is recognized by the government. These things also need to be solved,” he added.
However, Mizanur Rahman said he has not been invited to the meeting which has been called to discuss his recommendations.
In this regard, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury said: “I have not been invited by the Ministry of Home Affairs. I don’t know why they didn’t call me. However, If I get the opportunity to be there, I will be able to provide a clear explanation if anyone has any questions about the proposals. I know things will not change in a day. But one day it will be resolved through discussion.”
Maulana Musleh Uddin Raju, vice president of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Board, told Bangla Tribune: “We have received the letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs. We are always in touch with the Home Minister and other officials regarding Qawmi madrasa education. But Hefazat-e-Islam is a religious organization. There are several boards to decide on madrasas.
“Today’s (Saturday) meeting is to decide whether we will participate in the meeting of the home ministry,” he added.
Maulana Ruhul Amin, chairman of Befaqul Madarisil Qawmia Gowhardanga and khatib of Baitul Mukarram, told Bangla Tribune: “You will know whether we will attend the meeting or not only after the meeting is over. I don’t know anything about the letter.”