Dhaka: Country’s Koumi Madrasas still appear hell-bent on not allowing National Anthem assembly on their premises for religious inhibition.

None of the registered madrasas under the Education Board of the Befakul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh Koumi Madrasa does open with the chorus of Tagore song—staying apart from the norms of mainstream educational institutions.

Abdul Jabbar, Director-General of the Koumi Madrasa Board, told the Banglanews24.com.bd, “As our National Anthem is written by a Hindu poet, being a citizen of a Muslim majority country we cannot allow Tagore’s song as the national anthem.”

To justify their stance, he also said they are not under the Education Ministry rather funded by foreign donors. “So we have to run within the set rules and regulations of the funding organizations.”  

He would not name the names of the agencies from which the money comes for running these Islamic educational institutions.

For a spot view, the correspondent visited two madrasas--Jamia Darul Quran Al Islamia Madrasa and Barkatpuri Yatem Madrasa, both located at Adarshanagar, Badda, in the city where even Bangladesh’s National Flag was not hoisted, let alone singing the national song.

Moulana Abu Sayed, Principal of Darul Quran Al Islamia Madrasa, said they teach Hafizes, Arabic, Urdu, and Farsi along with Bengali-medium lessons from class one to nine.

If any student wants to attend Dakhil examination, he or she has to register with Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board, he added.

Homira Akhter, a senior teacher of Barkatpuri Yatem Madrasa, said in the madrasa they do not maintain class-attendance sheet and National Anthem. “There is no direction for singing the National Anthem from our higher authorities concerned.”

Professor Emeritus Dr. Serajul Islam Chowdhury told banglanews24.com.bd that National Anthem is strongly related to the origin of the country so everybody should have the respect for it.

“Those who do not want to show the respect toward our National Anthem, they do not believe in the sovereignty of our country. And they are potential threat to our country,” said the noted academic.
 
He also said the National Anthem represents the pride and respects of the nation. “Trying to undermine our national interests, these institutions are creating militant students who are truly destructive for a country.”

He mentioned that they are using ‘religion’ as an issue by which they want to establish a utopian state. “These heinous scenarios must be exposed to the mass people and state should issue show-cause letter to the Koumi Madrasa Board,” said the English teacher of Dhaka University.

He also opined that the government should integrate the National Anthem within the constitutional framework along with a strong law regarding measures.
 
In spite of having state order for the National Anthem 1972, Presidential Order number 130, the madrasa board is not introducing the National Anthem.

A total of 2,795 madrasas are providing education across the country, but they are not complying with the law for the National Anthem.

BDST: 1542, May 13, 2010

 MR/MMA/MUA/