Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has stated that primary education is the most important foundation for building the nation, the state and civilisation, and has demanded the cancellation of decisions that go against religious values.
He said, “The recruitment of religious teachers in primary schools and all decisions contrary to religious values must be cancelled immediately.”
Speaking at a national seminar at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday, the party’s secretary general Mia Golam Porwar said religious teachers should be appointed in primary schools and all measures deemed contrary to religious beliefs must be cancelled immediately.
He warned that undermining the base of primary education could jeopardise the country’s future.
Golam Porwar alleged that lessons on homosexuality, transgender issues and sexuality are being introduced in the name of Western culture and secularism, which he claimed contradict Muslim social values.
He said no one has the authority to damage the fundamental basis of character-building for 20 million students enrolled in 118,000 primary schools across the country.
He noted that more than 90% of the population is Muslim, saying education should therefore prioritise character and moral development, promoting balanced growth of body, mind and soul.
He further claimed that Western educational philosophy is being imposed as part of a conspiracy to destroy the nation’s long-standing Muslim tradition and civilisation.
Addressing policymakers, he said decisions must consider national identity and the desired upbringing of future generations.
Organisers said the seminar renewed the demand for appointing separate religious teachers in all primary schools and urged the government to take concrete action to implement it.
