Biometric Mandate for Madrasas: Board Sets July Deadline for Attendance Reform
In a bid to curb teacher and staff absenteeism and ensure consistent classroom participation, the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board has issued a directive requiring all madrasas in the country to implement biometric attendance systems by July 10.
The directive, aimed at reinforcing institutional discipline, warns that failure to enforce biometric attendance within the stipulated timeframe will result in punitive measures against both the institutions and the responsible individuals.
Chronic complaints have long surrounded issues such as teachers being absent without permission, evading institutional responsibilities, or skipping regular classes. In some madrasas, students and guardians report that academic activities are severely disrupted at certain times of the year or under specific circumstances. Though calls for a centralized and verifiable digital attendance system have been made repeatedly in the past, this marks the first time a concrete deadline has been set.
According to the directive, starting from July 10, officials from the Madrasah Board will conduct unannounced inspections at institutions across the country. “If biometric attendance systems are found to be absent or if irregular attendance among teachers and staff is observed, necessary disciplinary actions will be taken,” the notice reads.
Confirming the matter on Tuesday, April 8, Professor Md. Abduch Sattar Mia, Registrar of the Madrasah Education Board, stated: “We want every madrasa in the country to adhere to discipline. Technology will aid in ensuring transparency, and biometric attendance will instill a sense of accountability among teachers.”
In response to longstanding complaints, the Board issued an official letter on Monday, April 7, to all madrasa superintendents and principals, reiterating the requirement for biometric attendance by the July deadline. Under this system, attendance data will be digitally stored and accessible to inspectors and policymakers for real-time monitoring.
However, concerns remain regarding the practicality of implementation, as the majority of the country’s 9,256 madrasas are situated in rural or peri-urban areas with inconsistent electricity and internet connectivity. Stakeholders have expressed doubts about whether all institutions, particularly those lacking technical infrastructure or sufficient budgets, will be able to procure and deploy the necessary equipment on time.
Experts have also highlighted the importance of centralized coordination by the Board or Ministry of Education in managing attendance data and ensuring accessibility to a nationwide reporting system.
Despite these challenges, education policymakers consider the initiative a pivotal step in madrasa-level administrative reform. They argue that regular teacher attendance will increase class time for students, enhance educational quality, and rebuild parental confidence in the system.
According to the latest survey conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), there are currently 4,126,626 students enrolled in madrasas—the highest in two decades. Given the scale of this student population, stakeholders agree that implementing biometric attendance is a timely and necessary measure to uphold education standards in the madrasa sector.
