Advisor Emphasizes Science-Based, Technology-Driven Education at Seminar on Madrasa System
To build a just, science-based, and technologically advanced education system, a comprehensive approach is necessary, said Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, Advisor to the Ministry of Education. He made these remarks on Wednesday at the International Mother Language Institute during a seminar titled "The Past, Present, and Future of Madrasa Education in Bangladesh".
Abrar highlighted the historical roots of madrasa education, stating, "Madrasa education began in this region when Arab traders arrived. Following Muhammad Ghuri’s conquest of India, the first state-sponsored madrasa was established in Ajmer in 1192. During the Mughal era, madrasa education flourished under government patronage. Later, in 1870, the Madrasa-e-Alia was founded in Kolkata, which subsequently led to the establishment of Alia madrasas in Bangladesh."
He pointed out that madrasa education is one of the three major streams of Bangladesh's education system, involving approximately three to four million students and two hundred thousand teachers. He emphasized the role of madrasa teachers in supporting underprivileged students, stating, "Madrasa teachers bear the responsibility of caring for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. By properly fulfilling their duties, utilizing merit, competence, time, and opportunity, they must prepare these students to become self-reliant."
The advisor stressed the importance of proper resource allocation, stating, "All state institutions run on public funds, and we must ensure their optimal utilization. Through discussions in this seminar, we need to determine how to allocate resources efficiently to achieve our goals. It is essential to define the responsibilities of students, teachers, and administrators in empowering the marginalized communities linked to madrasa education."
He urged stakeholders to explore ways to modernize madrasa education to meet students’ needs, adding, "What can the state do to reform madrasa education? What role should civil society play? These are the issues we must address in today's seminar."
Paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for democracy, Abrar stated, "Since the formation of Bangladesh, madrasa students have played a role in every democratic movement, from the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion to the 1924 mass uprising. I extend my deepest respect to all who were martyred or injured in the student and worker movements of 1924."
Reflecting on the previous government's tenure, he remarked, "The situation was so dire that we forgot we were citizens. Even cabinet ministers could not speak freely, and we were reduced to mere subjects. Through student and public movements, we have now gained a new society."
He emphasized the need for a just and inclusive society, stating, "We must seize this opportunity to foster new ideas and establish a society where all citizens are equal. Our children must be allowed to soar like free birds, unhindered in their pursuit of knowledge and creativity."
The seminar was chaired by Dr. K. M. Kabirul Islam, Secretary of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division. Special guests included Siddiq Zobair, Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division. The event featured presentations by Dr. Salimullah Khan, Professor at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh; Dr. ABM Siddiqur Rahman Nizami, Professor of Arabic at Dhaka University; and Maulana Mohammad Liaqat Ali, Director of Education at Madrasa Darul Rashad, Mirpur-12.
