Cancellation of the school textbook review committee: the complicity of the interim government with the radicals is worrying, according to the TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said today (September 30) that the caretaker government had set a worrying and risky precedent by compromising policy decisions in response to “self-interested radical threats”.

In a press release, the organization expressed deep concern that the decision to cancel the coordinating committee tasked with modifying and revising all textbooks, prepared and printed by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB ), contradicts “the vision of a “new” non-discriminatory program. Bangladesh” and its non-communal spirit”.

“This,” the TIB asserts, “is indicative of the compromising position of the interim government,” he said.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said: “We are alarmed by efforts to spread malice, hatred and hostility against non-communalism and pluralism, which are gaining momentum. The interim government compromises by succumbing to propaganda and threats posed by its own interests. interested factions. »

He added: “A troubling example of this is the cancellation of the coordination committee tasked with amending and revising school textbooks, which not only represents a concession to fundamentalism and communitarianism, but also betrays the very aspirations of the “ New Bangladesh” for a non-discriminatory and non-discriminatory country. -a community and democratic future.”

Zaman added: “No matter how subdued the oppressive and communal forces that have emerged from the ruins of authoritarianism are, and no matter how much they attempt to impose their discriminatory ideology on society, we firmly believe that the mainstream anti-discrimination movement will not allow such forces to flourish. The strength of the interim government lies in the fundamental values ​​of the anti-discrimination movement: pluralism, inclusion, equality and non-communitarianism. »

Nonetheless, he expressed hope that the government would continue to fulfill its responsibility to reform the state and avoid compromising with all forms of malign forces, especially communal and fundamentalist factions.

The Education Ministry on Saturday dissolved the 10-member coordination committee formed to review and amend all textbooks.

On September 15, the government formed the committee for review and amendment of all textbooks prepared and published by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).

On September 22, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami general secretary Mia Golam Parwar appealed to the government to include at least two alems (Islamic scholars) in the committee. Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Emir of Islamic Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), also made the same demand.

A similar demand was also made by a teachers’ organization named National Teachers’ Forum.

Speaking to the Business Standard, Anu Muhammad, former professor of economics at Jahangirnagar University, said, “Cancelling the textbook review committee does not send a good message. Any decision must be made thoughtfully. Many people are now filing complaints against the committee. , opposing it in the name of religion. If the committee is dissolved for this reason, it will reflect the weakness of the government.