Appoint religious teachers in primary schools or face demo

The interim government's decision to appoint music and dance teachers in primary schools, instead of religious teachers, is "forced and irrelevant", leaders of Islamist political parties and organisations said yesterday.

The seminar, organised by Jatiya Olama Mashayekh Aima Parishad, was held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Dhaka 's Kakrail.

Representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon attended the programme.

At the event, they said the move is "indirectly connected with an atheistic philosophy to make the future generation faithless and an attempt to destroy schoolchildren".

Emphasising that there is no alternative to religious and moral education, speakers alleged that the current interim government wants to push the nation backwards.

Addressing the event as chief guest, Islami Andolon Bangladesh Ameer (Charmonai Pir) Syed Rezaul Karim said, "When we took religious studies as children, there were separate teachers for Hindus and Muslims. We studied under them. But now, you want to appoint music teachers? What will they teach? What are your intentions? You want to make our children disrespectful, unruly, and characterless? We will never tolerate that."

He further warned that if the government fails to appoint religious teachers, the "Islam-loving and religion-loving people" of Bangladesh will be forced to take to the streets.

Jamaat-e-Islami central working committee member Khalilur Rahman Madani said, "We are not rejecting the national education policy. But its anti-Quran provisions must be amended. Otherwise, the ulema will ensure those changes are enforced. We want religious teachers -- not just for Islam."

Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Qader, referring to the new political situation after the mass uprising, called for a complete overhaul of the education system.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin Ahmad termed the absence of religious teachers in primary schools "shameful" in a country where 92 percent of people are Muslims.

He said subjects like music and dance should be optional, while religious education must be compulsory. "This is a conspiracy to make the future generation faithless."

In his address, Jatiya Olama Mashayekh Aima Parishad President Maulana Nurul Huda Faizi said, "There is no alternative to Quranic and religious education. We are determined to root out the corrupt culture of song and dance."

Addressing the government, he warned, "If this issue is not resolved while you are still in office, the result will be counterproductive."