Academic fate of 150 madrasa students uncertain

The students sought prime minister's interference to resolve the crisis so that they can appear in the examinations.

The victims are the students of Dakhil, Alim, Fazil and Kamil courses. They said that the madrasa authorities are barring them from the examinations following an incident of theft committed on June 14.

The madrasa was established in 1954 at Sholoshahar in the port city. As many as 3,000 students are currently enrolled and 50 teachers are working at the 50 years old madrasa.

"The authorities even had not allowed us to seat in the test examinations. We requested the authorities either to give us permission for taking part in the examinations or give transfer certificates (TC)," they added.

The students said that the incident of theft committed at room no. 315 of the lone hostel of the madrasa.

Soon after the incident, six, out of seven residents of the room, reported it to the principal and hostel super blaming one for stealing Tk 500.

But the principal not taking any action against the accused he inexplicably expelled the six who brought the allegation from the madrasa.

Meanwhile, general students launched an action programme, including indefinite siege on the campus from June 17, protesting the expulsion order.

Later, the madrasa authorities withdrew the expulsion order on June 18 after an arbitration by police in a bid to quell the agitation. But the authorities expelled 25 more students along with the six for their involvement in the agitation the following day and closed the madrasa sine die.

And general students went on fresh movement and submitted memorandums to the deputy commissioner, madrasa board chairman and education ministry demanding immediate resolution of the crisis.

Meantime, the principal and vice-principal of the madrasa filed three separate cases against the agitating students on September 2, 10 and 11 on charge of creating 'turmoil' on the campus. The students, however, were granted bail from the High Court.

Moniruzzaman Osmani, a Fazil student, told this correspondent that the authorities did not allow some 25 Dakhil students for filling up their forms to appear in the final examinations.

The authorities punished us as we had protested their illegal order, he said. We also requested the authorities to give us TC that they refused asking us not to come to the campus, he said. Now our academic fate hangs in the balance and we don't know what should we do, he added.

In this circumstances, we seek prime minister's immediate interference to resolve the crisis, he said.