There are estimated 5 million Madrasahs students in Bangladesh, the world third-largest Muslim majority country.

DHAKA — Bangladeshi scholars and students have welcomed a recent decision by the government to recognize Fazil as equivalent to graduate and Kamil to a master degree as giving an additional boost to religious education in the country.

"We congratulate the government for this historic decision. This will be regarded as a milestone for the Madrasah education in Bangladesh," Professor Zainul Abedin, President of Bangladesh Masjid Mission and Principal of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah, told IslamOnline.net.

The government of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has recently endorsed the Madrasah Education Act 2006 and the National University Act 2006 to bring the Fazil and Kamil Madrasahs under the National University.

Earlier, the government decided to recognize Dawra degree of Qawmi Madrasahs as equivalent to master's degree in Islamic studies or Arabic literature.

For years, religion-based Madrasah education is going side by side with the general education sector in Bangladesh.

At present, there are almost 10,000 Alia Madrasahs and 15,000 Qawmi Madrasahs operating in this country.

There are estimated 5 million Madrasahs students in Bangladesh, the world third-largest Muslim majority country with a population of some 148 million.

Muslims make up 83% of the population, Hindu 16%, other 1%, according to the CIA online World Fact Book.

New Horizon

The government's decision opens new horizon for Madrasah graduates who have been unable to get appropriate jobs over the lack of proper policy, guidelines and standard education.

"A new door will be opened for the deprived Madrasah students," Lutful Huq, Director of the Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh, told IOL.

"Their curriculum will be modified according to the global needs. Therefore, they will become more competent and adroit and they will be able to contribute to the overall development of the country."

Nearly 22,000 students graduate from Madrasahs every year.

They usually assumed posts as mosque imams or teachers at nominally secular schools.

Most of them are unable to get appropriate jobs for the lack of proper policy, guidelines and standard education.

Now, the graduates will be eligible to sit for any competitive exams held in this country, particularly the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations every year.

Professor Muhammad Ansar Uddin, Department of Islamic Studies at Dhaka University, believes the government's decision would surely assist Madrasah students to feel encouraged and go forward to build up their future career.

Hafez Muhammad Abdullah, a student of Durbati Kamil Madrasah of Gazipur, agreed.

"We have got the opportunity, and now it is our challenge to win the competition with the students of other Colleges and Universities."