Islamic Foundation Board reconstituted with 13 members

The government has reconstituted the Board of Governors of the Islamic Foundation with 13 members to oversee its overall activities, with the religious affairs minister appointed as chairman.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the formation of the new board in a gazette notification issued on Wednesday (September 2), under Section 6(1) of the Islamic Foundation Act, 1974.

Six members have been included in the board on an ex-officio basis. The religious affairs minister will serve as chairman, while the other ex-officio members are the chairman of the University Grants Commission, secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, vice-chancellor of Islamic University, and chairman of the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board.

The director general of the Islamic Foundation will serve as the board's member-secretary.

Two government-nominated members of parliament have also been included in the new board. They are State Minister and Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaisar and Cox's Bazar-4 MP Shahjahan Chowdhury.

Five prominent Islamic scholars have been appointed as members of the board: Mufti Monir Hossain Qasemi, Muhtamim of Jamia Madania Baridhara in Dhaka; Maulana Syed Md Mosaddeq Billah Al-Madani, principal of Charmonai Ahsanabad Rashidia Kamil Madrasa in Barishal; Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, secretary general of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh; Mufti Azharul Islam, director general of Markazud Dawah Al-Islami in Jatrabari; and Mufti Sharif Ullah, vice-principal of Nure Madina Al-Arabia Madrasa.

According to the notification, members appointed other than ex-officio members will serve for three years. However, they may continue to perform their duties after their terms expire until the government appoints new members.

The government may replace any non-ex-officio member at any time if necessary and may appoint additional members as required, the notification said.

The Board of Governors plays an important role in overseeing the Islamic Foundation's activities, providing policy guidance and supporting various religious and social programmes.