Madrasa education system’s past traditions must be brought back: Religious Advisor

Religious Advisor Dr. A. F. M. Khalid Hossain said, Madrasa education is a specialized education system. It must be maintained. This education system cannot be allowed to fall into ruin in the name of ultra-modernity. The uniqueness of this education system must be maintained. The past traditions of the Madrasa education system must be brought back. He said these things in his speech as the chief guest at a seminar titled ‘Alia Madrasa Education System for Sustainable Development: Challenges and Ways to Overcome’ at the IDEB Auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday (July 9) afternoon. The seminar was organized by the Bangladesh Madrasa Chhatra Kalyan Parishad. The Religious Advisor said, the Alia Madrasa education system has been making significant contributions to the practice of Islamic knowledge, the development of values, and the spread of Islamic thought throughout the Indian subcontinent for ages. Although there are some shortcomings and deviations, the contribution of this education system is huge. From the establishment of the Kolkata Aliya Madrasa to the establishment of the Deoband Madrasa, the scholars and ulamas educated in Aliya Madrasa education lit the torch of knowledge in India for 86 years. Even now, many scholars and ulamas who have obtained education from Aliya Madrasa are playing a significant role in various levels of society. He requested everyone to come out of the feeling of inferiority. The religious advisor said, ‘We must continue the movement against those who want to suppress the Madrasa education system. Everyone should be careful that fascism may be created again. He advised the Madrasa students to be optimistic and not despair.’ Highlighting the importance of Madrasa education, Dr. Khalid said that Madrasa education was suppressed for the past sixteen years. The National University was positive in introducing honors in general subjects, but the university’s approach was negative in subjects such as Islamic Studies, Arabic Literature, Islamic History, etc. This section has been removed from the National University. Now the Madrasa education system will be improved. The seminar was chaired by Maulana Zainul Abedin, Advisor to the Principal of Bangladesh Madrasa Student Welfare Council, and the main discussant was Professor Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam, Vice Chancellor of Islamor Arabic University. The main article was presented by Dr. Mohammad Hedayet Ullah, Curriculum Specialist of Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board. Among others, Professor Dr. Ahmed Ali, Department of Islamic Studies, Chittagong University, Dean Professor Md. Aliullah, President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Zahidul Islam, and others spoke. More than a hundred Islamic scholars, scholars-ulamas and madrasa students participated in the seminar.