Unequal Treatment in Benefits Due to Institutional Differences Will Not Be Accepted: Shabbir Ahmad Momtazi
Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarresseen is firmly committed to nationalising the jobs of teachers of independent Ibtedayi madrasas. Discrimination must be removed by ensuring all facilities for Ibtedayi students, as provided to primary school students. Unequal treatment in facilities simply because of differences between institutions will not be accepted.
Principal Shabbir Ahmad Momtazi, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarresseen, a traditional professional and non-political organisation of madrasa teachers and employees, made these remarks during a meeting with leaders of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrasa National Teachers Unity Front on Wednesday.
A high-level delegation of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrasa National Teachers Unity Front paid a courtesy visit to the central office of Jamiatul Modarresseen and met its Secretary General, Principal Shabbir Ahmad Momtazi.
At the meeting, the Jamiat Secretary General said that after the independence of Bangladesh, the late Maulana M.A. Mannan (RA) had made strong efforts to remove disparities between general and madrasa education since taking charge of Jamiatul Modarresseen.
He said strong demands had been raised through his efforts from the very beginning of independent Ibtedayi madrasas to ensure facilities for teachers and students at this level of education. The issue of independent Ibtedayi madrasas was also given importance in the first election manifesto of former Prime Minister Ms. Khaleda Zia.
He said that although successive governments had given various assurances during their terms in office, the situation of independent Ibtedayi teachers and students, who have been deprived of facilities, had not changed.
“Time has come to erase the frustrations of the past and reorganise everything,” he said.
He added that the misrule and discrimination in different sectors were gradually being removed, and the country was being rebuilt in a new way. Teachers and students of independent Ibtedayi madrasas also want to be part of this process.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Education Minister, the State Minister for Primary and Mass Education, the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education and others are highly supportive of madrasa education. “We are hopeful that all the problems of independent Ibtedayi madrasas will be resolved under their leadership,” he said.
He further said, “Why is such unequal treatment being given in the same country, with the same standard of education, simply because of differences between institutions?” He demanded the immediate nationalisation of the jobs of all teachers working at independent Ibtedayi madrasas. He also demanded that students be provided with all facilities available to primary school students, including stipends, midday meals and school uniforms.
He also called for the scholarship examination fees to be made equal and for the scholarship money to be paid without delay to the independent Ibtedayi students who received scholarships last year but have not yet received the funds. He warned that otherwise, Jamiatul Modarresseen could announce strict programmes in support of the demands.
At the meeting, leaders of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrasa National Teachers Unity Front expressed their views and highlighted various problems facing independent Ibtedayi institutions. They also requested Jamiatul Modarresseen to take a position in support of their legitimate demands.
Among those present and speaking at the meeting were H.M. Shamsul Haque, convener of the Independent Ibtedayi Madrasa National Teachers Unity Front; Md. Tajul Islam Farazi; Md. Shamsul Alam; Publicity and Publication Secretary Raihanul Islam; Md. Enayetur Rahman;Md. Moniruzzaman Monir; Hafiz Maulana Ahmad Ali; Md. Rezaul Haque; Md. Mosleh Uddin; Md. Yusuf Sharif; Maulana Md. Mostafizur Rahman; Md. Hasnain and others.
