Bachelor's degree now mandatory

The government has made a bachelor's degree mandatory for individuals seeking leadership roles in private madrasa managing committees, in a significant policy shift aimed at improving administrative standards and institutional governance in religious education.

Under the new directive, only graduates or individuals with equivalent qualifications will be eligible to serve as presidents of managing committees in Dakhil, Alim and Fazil level madrasas across the country. The instruction was issued in a notification signed on May 17 by Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board Chairman Professor Mia Md. Nurul Haque. It takes immediate effect and will apply during the formation or reconstitution of all future managing committees.

According to the notification, the decision has been introduced to enhance the quality of madrasa education, ensure greater administrative accountability and align governance structures with the broader framework of the national education system.

It further states that candidates must provide proof of at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification at the time of nomination or election. The directive also disqualifies individuals facing serious criminal proceedings or corruption allegations from holding the post.

Officials at the Ministry of Education said the move responds to longstanding concerns that individuals without sufficient academic background had been occupying key positions in madrasa management bodies, contributing to administrative weaknesses.