While Daorae Hadis degree at Qawmi madrasas has been given recognition as Masters, the lower level degrees of Qawmi madrasa do not have any recognition.
The 33,000 Qawmi madrasas across the nation, which are run with the grant of the general people, ensure literacy for more than 1 lakh children every year.
A large section of the children gets free food and education. Relevant people say that in addition to religious education, the children are getting general education too.
In five classes of the primary stage, Bangla, English, Mathematics are taught.
But some have called for a change of the books.
However, there was an incident of question paper leaks at the Jamiatil Qawmia central exam. After investigation, the perpetrators were punished.
Secretary general of the Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasa Education Board, moulana Abdul Kuddus, said: “There are 13200 institutes all over the country and under the regional and divisional board, there are 20 thousand Qawmi madrasas.”
Around half of the students of these institutes are given free education.
The religious scholars say that the main income of Qawmi madrasas come from grants and in the city madrasas, three meals are provided free.
Principal of Jamia, Rahmania, Arabia in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Mahfuzul Huq, said: “around 25 lakh children get a chance to study at Qawmi madrasas and the cost of a large section of the children is borne by the madrasa and the main source of income is grant.”
Principal of Darul Ulum Islamia, moulana Sirajul Islam, said: “some students stay with other families and share their food.”
Some madrasas also have boarding.
Students at the village madrasas get unhindered chance to play in the open – a privilege which is not enjoyed by many in the cities.
Principal of Jamia, Arabia Darul Ulum, Muhiuddin Ikram, said: “children of low income families also study here and every student spends around 16 to 17 hours studying.”
Abdul Ahad, who teaches Bangla and English at a madrasa in Bara Katra, says: “our books touch all issued though main thrust is on religion.”
On Nov 4, 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was conferred with the ‘Qawmi Mother’ title for the recognition.
The demand for recognition of the degree was made in 1997.
Later, the then chairman of Islami Oikya Jote, Shaikhul Hadis Allama Azizul Huq, observed a hunger strike. Based on the persistent demands raised by others, the then prime minister Khaleda Zia declared Daorae Hadis equivalent to Masters.
However, without a gazette, the process stalled. Eventually, in 2017, with consensus from all religious clerics and scholars, the current PM Sheikh Hasina declared Dawra-e-Hadith as similar to Master
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