The New Nation - Internet Edition

The Dhaka University prospectus for the current year reportedly provides that madrashah students cannot seek admission to some departments. Mehedi Hasan and Md Muhsin Uddin, two madrashah students, secured the 48th and the 185th positions respectively in the 'Kha' Unit admission test of the university. But they have been barred from admission to Mass Communications and Journalism. Earlier English and Bangla Departments used to put bar on students not studying the respective subjects with 200 marks each at the Higher Secondary level.

It gives rise to a number of questions. It is learnt that neither the Syndicate, not the Academic Council or the Deans' Committee took the decision. Then who put it in the prospectus? The Dean of the Arts Faculty pleaded ignorance about the matter. Those who initiated the move deserve to be condemned. Now even withdrawal of the illegal restriction would prove not enough, the university authority may have to answer legal and ethical questions. Madrashah education is not illegal in the country. To upgrade madrashah education to the present era of information communication technology and globalisation, the authorities have incorporated lessons on science and technology in the madrashah curricula. Then why should their deserving students be deprived of the right to study in the institutions of higher learning.

Through this action the persons responsible have lowered the prestige of the highest seat of learning and brought shame to it. If there is any weakness in madrashah education, it should be removed through upgradation of curricula and syllabi. Any wrong decision like the present one can only have serious social implications. The creation of a sense of neglect and deprivation in the minds of the madrashah students would never serve the cause of social integration. Let the university forge ahead instead of creating new problems for itself and the society.