Ulama storm Baitul Mukarram, demand cancellation of singing teachers

Prominent Ulama-Mashaykhs of the country protested at the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram on Friday (September 19) in protest against the decision to appoint singing teachers in government primary schools in Dhaka. They demanded that religious teachers, not singing teachers, be appointed in educational institutions.

The protest march held under the banner of the National Ulama-Mashaykh Aima Parishad was attended by leaders and activists from various levels, including Central General Secretary Mufti Rezaul Karim Abrar, Publicity Secretary Hamim Abdul Aziz, Administrative Director of Kolrab Mufti Saeed Ahmed.

Speakers at the pre-march rally said, "Religious teachers are needed to raise children in Islamic ideals. Morality does not come through singing, rather children can be ruined. If they are taught in the light of the Quran and Hadith, they will develop into real people."

Ulama-e-Mashaykhs claim that the initiative to appoint music teachers in the country's educational institutions is contrary to the formation of moral values ​​of students. In this case, if religious teachers are appointed in the light of the Quran and Hadith, students will be able to achieve proper education and morality.

Senior Nayeb-e-Amir and Charmonai Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim of the Islamic Movement Bangladesh said, "The appointment of religious teachers, not music teachers, is the demand of today. It is obligatory for every Muslim to study religious knowledge. Although 92 percent of the country is Muslim, this obligatory education has not been ensured in the education system. It is the government's responsibility to implement it, but it is not being done."

He also said, "We are clearly telling the government that the appointment of music teachers in educational institutions must be stopped. The moral progress of any nation is not possible without Islamic education. If the government delays in appointing religious teachers, we will join the movement with scholars and ulema from all walks of life and the general Muslim public in the country. If necessary, the government will also be forced."

After the protest, a procession came out from the Baitul Mukarram premises and circled various streets. The participants chanted slogans—“Ensure the appointment of religious teachers, not music teachers” and “Expand Islamic education in the education system.”

This was an organized protest led by Ulema-Mashaykhs with the aim of re-establishing the importance of religious education in the country’s education system.