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Jamaat slates edn policy, earns blushes

Staff Correspondent
Jamaat-e-lslami, which criticised the draft national education policy 2009 at a press conference yesterday, came under a volley of questions from reporters that apparently put the party leaders into difficulties.
The party demanded cancellation or suspension of the education policy though it did not give any opinion on its final report posted at the ministry's website for opinions.
Jamaat also demanded forming an education commission with eminent educationists acceptable to all quarters or extend the time for giving opinion by two months to formulate an education policy in conformity with the constitution.
The press conference was held at its central party office to give its official statement about the education policy. The party leaders raised questions about the policy formulation committee and its members, saying the committee did not consult with any representative organisation.
Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami. Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and other central leaders were present.
In a written statement, Nizami said a small number of people arc aware of the policy as a short time was given to give opinions on It.
"Adequate time was not given for this and no measure was taken to publicise the matter through the media," he said.
Asked whether the party gave its opinion on the policy at the website, Nizami said they did hot post any opinion on the website directly.
"Different organisations gave their views and we are informing (the matter) through you (medial... who will give the guarantee that our views will be published through the website," he said.
Taking the floor, Mojaheed said thousands of people gave their opinions and they will give it if the government wants.
Both the leaders, however, remained silent when asked why they did not give any opinion when the government wanted it through the website.
Nizami said a proposal was included in the policy to destroy madrasha education because of the anti-lslamic mentality of the committee members.
He labelled committee chairman Kabir Chowdhury as a cultural activist saying, "Is he (Kabir Chowdhury] an educationist? We used to know him as a cultural activist."
When he was told that Kabir Chowdhury is a national professor and was a university teacher, he said no body could be an educationist by teaching only.
Asked whether Jamaat is going to give a definition for an educationist, both the leaders could not give proper answer.
Asked why they did not discuss with the committee, Nizami said the committee did not invite them while Mojaheed alleged that the' government is doing everything secretly.
Replying to another question whether Jamaat had sought time to discuss with the committee to share their views as around 56 organisations did so, they said they were not aware of it.
When the newsmen asked whether the party was doing politics on the policy, he said: "Where do you [journalists) get politics here? We are just giving our opinion and we will respond if they call us."
The Jamaat chief said the policy says that the education system would be secular and pro-people which is contradictory.
"The meaning of pro-people education in Bangladesh is an education based on Islamic principles and the meaning of secular education is irreligious and anti-people education," he said, adding that the committee does not have the authority to force irreligious education on the people.
As the reporters asked why had the party not demanded for introducing an education policy based on Iman (faith) and Aqidah (Islamic creed) during their regime as the key ally of the government, Mojaheed said it is a wrong information as no report was published during the then four-party regime.
When informed about the report prepared by the Moniruzzaman Mia Commission, Nizami said a report was prepared but that did not go to the cabinet.
Asked whether they had demanded for an education system based on religion during their regime, he said, "We did not have time."
The Jamaat chief said it is the duty of the people to resist if an irreligious education system is forced on the people unilaterally.
Asked whether the party would announce any programme, he said, "Time will say."
Nizami alleged that religious and moral education have been removed from class 1 and II to teach anti-religious education.