Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Monday said there is no alternative to religious education in building an enlightened generation with moral and human values and eliminating moral degradation from society.
“Teachers, religious education must play the most important role in preventing moral degradation in the present social system.
Students who memorise the Holy Quran remain away from wrongdoing by keeping the Quran in their hearts. Incorporating religious values into education is essential to building the Bangladesh of tomorrow”, he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing the third session of the “14th Hifzul Quran Award and Quran Festival 2026”, organised by Tanzimul Ummah Foundation at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.
The minister said a strong foundation in religious education, starting from village maktabs alongside general education, could help prevent young people from going astray. Modern science and technology must be integrated with religious and moral values in the education system, he said.
He said the government had already taken initiatives to introduce a time-befitting education system by narrowing the gap between madrasa and general education.
The disparity between the two streams is gradually decreasing through the inclusion of science, arts, commerce and technical education in madrasas alongside religious studies, he said.
He noted that the modernisation of this education system had begun during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
The education minister also said the government had taken a firm stance against irregularities in some institutions in the name of receiving Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facilities and against substandard teaching.
He added that the government is committed to addressing the shortage of Islamic studies teachers and ensuring the recruitment of qualified teachers.
Former principal of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa and Secretary of Tamirul Millat Trust Maulana Zainul Abedin presided over the programme, while Principal of Tanzimul Ummah Alim Madrasa Maulana Abdullah Al Mamun delivered the welcome address.
Former Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A F M Khalid Hossain, lawmakers Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen, Hafez Rashedul Islam and Sayed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, along with prominent Islamic scholars and thinkers, attended the event as special guests.
At the day-long programme, 1,759 meritorious students who had memorised the Holy Quran from different branches run by Tanzimul Ummah Foundation were awarded crests, certificates, turbans or scarves and awards.
Their proud parents were also given special recognition in appreciation of raising their children as Hafiz-e-Quran.
