Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament, Professor Mia Golam Porwar issued a statement on 15 September urging the immediate publication of the gazette for the MPO (Monthly Pay Order) inclusion of independent Ebtedayee Madrasas (religious schools).

In the statement, he said that independent Ebtedayee Madrasas are one of the recognized streams of education by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. These madrasas, along with their teachers and students, have long been deprived, neglected, and oppressed. We have been observing with deep concern that teachers of independent Ebtedayee Madrasas have been struggling for a long time to establish their rights. Yet, none of the past governments have fulfilled their demands to this day. As a result, those associated with Ebtedayee Madrasas have been subjected to discrimination for many years.

He further said in the statement that the demand of independent Ebtedayee Madrasa teachers is that they be granted all facilities and rights in coordination with government primary school teachers. I believe their demand is logical. But certain fascist Awami League bureaucrats entrenched in the government and a specific Islam-opposing clique are misleading the Honorable Education Adviser and the Chief Adviser regarding the demand of independent Ebtedayee Madrasas. Yet, for the purpose of gathering information, the Ministry of Technical and Madrasa Education have, on its own initiative, worked tirelessly—sometimes through the Ministry of Education, sometimes through the Madrasa and Technical Directorate, sometimes through BANBEIS, and sometimes through the Madrasa Board—to prepare a proposal. But we are observing with deep concern that the proposal for the MPO inclusion of independent Ebtedayee Madrasas has not yet been signed. The nation wants to know for what reason, and on whose advice, the relevant authorities are refraining from signing the MPO file of the independent Ebtedayee Madrasas.

Expressing concern, he further said that by now all teachers’ organizations of Ebtedayee Madrasas have announced programs under the slogan, “Either our demands will be met, or we will embrace death.” The declared programs of the independent Ebtedayee Madrasa teachers may destabilize the country, and fallen fascists may try to take the chance of this situation. Therefore, the Honorable Chief Adviser should, without delay, sign the MPO inclusion file of independent Ebtedayee Madrasas and publish it in the form of a gazette, so that the long-standing neglect, deprivation, and discrimination against the teachers may come to an end.”