Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Tuesday said the national flag must be respected and the national anthem should be sung at all madrasas.
Stating that some madrasas do not show respect to the national flag of Bangladesh and do not sing the national anthem, she said: “The students do not learn to respect the country, nor do they learn to respect the heroes of the nation because of this.”
“Moreover, it violates the state law,” she said.
She made these remarks as the chief guest at a discussion meeting and cultural program organized on the occasion of Victory Day at Anima Chowdhury Auditorium in Natore.
“The national flag and national anthem are symbols of independence of Bangladesh. Respecting the national flag and singing the national anthem means respecting the freedom of Bangladesh and the freedom fighters who liberated the country by shedding their blood,” she said.
“So those who believe in the independence of Bangladesh and want to respect the brave freedom fighters, must show respect to the national flag and sing the national anthem,” she added.
The education minister said every educational institution is responsible for awakening this consciousness in the new generation. For this, every educational institute must have assemblies where students will pay their respect to the national flag of Bangladesh and sing the national anthem, she said.
Dipu Moni urged local administrations and public representatives to monitor educational institutes and called upon all concerned to take necessary action against any madrasa or educational institute disregarding such rules and not teaching children to respect the national flag and national anthem.
