Replace dance, music with religion in primary schools: The latest from Bangladesh's Jamaat

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the radical Islamist political group, has urged the government to abandon its plan of appointing dance teachers in primary schools and instead hire religious instructors to ensure children grow up as “honest and responsible citizens,” according to a statement.

In a statement issued on Sunday (Sept 7), Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, “Appointing music and dance teachers instead of religious instructors is completely unacceptable. Music or dance cannot be considered compulsory subjects for students. If a family has a strong interest in such activities, they can arrange private teachers themselves. But religious education is essential for all communities.”

Parwar urged the government and its education adviser to immediately begin recruiting religious teachers in every primary school so that students receive faith-based instruction and can “lead enlightened lives.”

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He noted that while a syllabus for Islamic and moral education already exists, government schools lack specialised teachers, leaving students deprived of proper religious instruction.

Warning over ‘moral crisis’

Citing a “decline in social and moral values” among students, Parwar said intolerance was rising, while families, society, and the state were failing to produce honest citizens and strong leadership.

“Religious education fosters morality and values, forming the foundation of virtuous behaviour and building a just and disciplined society,” he added.

He further criticised the government’s move to appoint music and dance teachers at a time when, according to him, the youth are facing a moral crisis.

“This is a suicidal move for the nation. What is truly needed now is to build enlightened individuals with strong moral and religious values,” Parwar said.

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Long-standing demand

Jamaat, he reminded, has long demanded the recruitment of religious teachers in primary schools, but instead the government has chosen to prioritise cultural subjects. “We consider this a deeply regrettable and unjustified decision,” the statement concluded.

Rise of radicals after Hasina’s ouster

This development comes amid a visible rise in radical factions in Bangladesh under the Yunus-led interim government, where minorities are facing persecution following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After massive student-led protests forced Hasina from office in August 2024, multiple reports documented a spike in attacks on religious minorities, especially Hindus, along with signs of growing influence of hardline Islamist groups amid political instability.

News outlets and official tallies recorded dozens — and in some accounts, a few hundred — attacks on minority homes, temples and shops in the weeks following Hasina’s resignation. One report cited around 200 attacks in the first week alone, while an official count later confirmed multiple dozen incidents.

Jamaat’s controversial past

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami remains a controversial Islamist party, once a significant political force but weakened after its registration was cancelled and top leaders convicted for 1971 war crimes. Despite this, it continues to wield influence through its student and social wings and was earlier aligned with the BNP against the Awami League.