Following expert committees recommendation, the Education Ministry has decided to remove Sharifa story from textbooks of Class VII that was allegedly included to promote homosexuality in the country.
The controversial story will be replaced by a new story on neglected Hijra community.
In this regard, the Education Ministry has officially instructed the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) through a letter to remove the story from the textbooks from next year and include a new story.
NCTB Chairman (routine duties) Prof Md Moshiuzzaman confirmed the matter on Tuesday.
"We have received a letter from the Ministry. In the letter, it was asked to replace the controversial Sharifa story from the textbooks and include a new story. We have planned to include a story on Hijra community," Moshiuzzaman told reporters on Tuesday.
Controversy triggered when Asif Mahtab Utsha, a part-time teacher at BRAC University, tore out the pages containing the story from a Class VII textbook during a protest in January, saying that it promoted homosexuality.
Amid the controversy, the Education Ministry formed a five-member committee of high-level experts to consider the storys inclusion in the textbook.
The committee recommended removal of Sharifa story as it found several inconsistencies.
The Daily Observer also published a series of reports at that time, highlighting differences between transgender and Hijra community.
