Radicalisation of textbooks

‘Punish persons responsible ’

Member of civil societies voiced their concerns over the radicalisation of textbooks after the alleged recommendations of the Hefazat-e-Islam, a coalition of Islamic hard-liners.

They also demanded of the government for identifying the persons, National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and bureaucrats responsible for such insertion of communal elements in the textbooks and to bring them to book. 
The demands came at a discussion on ‘Education System of Bangladesh at Crossroads’ organised by Sammilita Samajik Andalan at the auditorium of the Liberation War Museum in the capital. 
President of Sammilita Samajik Andalan Ajoy Roy said, “We are not talking of the spelling mistakes in the textbooks. But when the element of communalism is inserted in the textbooks it cannot be tolerated. We cannot accept the books following the recommendations of Hefazat-e-Islam and our children would read them.” 
 “Those who are at the helm of Hefazat-e-Islam have to be brought to justice. The government should identify the person within the government who support Hefazat-e-Islam. Otherwise, it would be impossible for the government to establish a secular state. One day Hefazat-e-Islam would not spare the prime minister as well and force her to wear Burkha if they are not stopped here.” He urged the government to cancel the books made after the recommendation of the Hefazat-e-Islam and realise the loss of money for printing such books from the Hefazat-e-Islam. 
Former adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury said, “Nobody is taking the responsibility of the errors and insertion of communal elements in the textbooks. At least 17 topics of the textbooks have been dropped after the recommendations of Hefazat-e-Islam. It’s an attempt to remove the non-communal spirit from the books.” 
She said that the taxpaying citizens have every right to know who were responsible behind the mistakes of the textbooks. 
Advocate Rana Das Gupta said, “We are stunned that such radicalisation of books has taken place when the pro-liberation political party is in power. It is unfortunate.” 
Prof Syed Anwar Hussain said, “The country has been liberated in 1971 but the education system has not been liberated yet. We still see the elements in the textbooks as prescribed by the Ayub government in Pakistan period. We see the political hypocrisy.”

Radicalisation of textbooks

Punish persons responsible

Member of civil societies voiced their concerns over the radicalisation of textbooks after the alleged recommendations of the Hefazat-e-Islam, a coalition of Islamic hard-liners. They also demanded of the government for identifying the persons, National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and bureaucrats responsible for such insertion of communal elements in the textbooks and to bring them to book. The demands came at a discussion on Education System of Bangladesh at Crossroads organised by Sammilita Samajik Andalan at the auditorium of the Liberation War Museum in the capital. President of Sammilita Samajik Andalan Ajoy Roy said, We are not talking of the spelling mistakes in the textbooks. But when the element of communalism is inserted in the textbooks it cannot be tolerated. We cannot accept the books following the recommendations of Hefazat-e-Islam and our children would read them. Those who are at the helm of Hefazat-e-Islam have to be brought to justice. The government should identify the person within the government who support Hefazat-e-Islam. Otherwise, it would be impossible for the government to establish a secular state. One day Hefazat-e-Islam would not spare the prime minister as well and force her to wear Burkha if they are not stopped here. He urged the government to cancel the books made after the recommendation of the Hefazat-e-Islam and realise the loss of money for printing such books from the Hefazat-e-Islam. Former adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury said, Nobody is taking the responsibility of the errors and insertion of communal elements in the textbooks. At least 17 topics of the textbooks have been dropped after the recommendations of Hefazat-e-Islam. Its an attempt to remove the non-communal spirit from the books. She said that the taxpaying citizens have every right to know who were responsible behind the mistakes of the textbooks. Advocate Rana Das Gupta said, We are stunned that such radicalisation of books has taken place when the pro-liberation political party is in power. It is unfortunate. Prof Syed Anwar Hussain said, The country has been liberated in 1971 but the education system has not been liberated yet. We still see the elements in the textbooks as prescribed by the Ayub government in Pakistan period. We see the political hypocrisy.