Scrapping music teacher posts ‘deliberate attempt to spread division, hatred’: ASK

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has criticised the demand to scrap recruitment of music teachers in government primary schools, calling it misleading, motivated, and harmful to Bangladesh's cultural rights.

The demand to cancel such recruitments was a "deliberate attempt to spread division and hatred in society", the rights organisation said in a statement today.

Citing the Constitution, ASK noted that every citizen has the right to practice their culture and participate in art and literature. "Bangladesh is a country with a political and cultural heritage, where music and art were an integral part of the Language Movement, Liberation War, social movements and all democratic struggles," the statement said.

It argued that music education is not just a source of recreation but also a way to enhance mental development, moral education, creativity, and tolerance. Protecting this heritage is both a constitutional responsibility of the state and a prerequisite for social harmony, ASK added.

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"The demand to cancel the appointment of music teachers is not only against constitutional rights but also an attempt to weaken our national culture," the statement read.

The statement added it is regrettable that some groups are deliberately trying to derail art and culture by demanding the cancellation of music teacher appointments. It said such efforts are not only unreasonable but also risk creating a one-sided society, with long-term consequences that could undermine national unity and cultural foundations.

ASK said cultural education should complement religious education in schools. It, however, criticised attempts to use the demand for religious teachers as a pretext to cancel music teacher recruitment.

"Such efforts not only hinder cultural development, but also undermine social harmony and pluralistic spirit," the rights group said.