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Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel addressed the media on Tuesday regarding the ongoing controversy over a story featured in a textbook.
“We plan to consult experts about the story of Sharifa discussed in the textbook. If there’s any confusion or misrepresentation, changes will be made,” Chowdhury told reporters at the Secretariat.
The story of Sharifa previously sparked debate, and currently, some are protesting over its content.
The education minister emphasised the need for a thorough discussion with the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) to understand why the story is eliciting such reactions.
He also expressed concern about certain groups’ tendency to exploit religious sentiments and instigate instability and anarchy in the country and said, “A few days ago, some recommendations were given to me from an organisation. Some Qawmi madrasa teachers claimed that the word ‘transgender’ has been used in the textbook. However, upon examination, it was clarified that the term used was ‘third gender’.”
“In our society, third-gender individuals, commonly known as ‘Hijra', are legally recognised citizens with rights,” Chowdhury clarified.
He further said, “If the presentation of the story leads to misunderstandings and controversies, we will discuss with experts whether we can modify its presentation while respecting the dignity of third-gender individuals. This is a specialised issue, and we don’t want to comment at a policy level.”
Responding to a question about the BRAC University controversy, the education minister said, “We will discuss this issue with BRAC University and understand it through the University Grants Commission, after which a detailed discussion will be held.”