Islamic Arabic University to be established soon : PM

The government will shortly establish an affiliating Islamic Arabic University to supervise the Madrasah education system, reports UNB. Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina announced it during a meeting with a delegation of executive committee of Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarresin at her office Wednesday. Committee president AMM Bahauddin and secretary general Sabbir Ahmed Momtaji led the delegation. Hasina informed the delegation that government has plans to establish a separate department for Madrasahs and increase the number of madrasah education boards. It has a number of projects to develop the infrastructures of the madrasahs across the country at a cost of Tk 3.78 billion. "Please stop doing any activity that harms Islam as religion and tarnish the image of the religion of peace," the PM told the Jamiatul Modarresin leaders. Referring to the opposition of proposed women development policy of the government the PM said a vested quarter opposed the policy to make it a political issue. "But there is nothing to hurt religion in the policy." A section of people who are opposing the Women Development Policy forced children to come to the streets during the hartal. "We have information that these small children were told they would not be provided food in their madrasah if they don't come out during the hartal hours . How cruel it was!" Hasina exclaimed. She urged the Islamic scholars to come forward against the culprits who are damaging the name of Islam in and outside the country. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, PM's adviser Dr Alauddin Ahmed, State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud were, among others, present at the meeting.