Dhaka: The Cabinet on Monday approved in principle the draft of a bill framed to recognise Dawrae Hadis (Takmil) Certificate in Qawmi Madrasah with the status of post-graduate degrees of Islamic Studies and Arabic.

The approval came at the Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office in the city, reports the UNB.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.

He said the bill titled ‘Making Dawrae Hadis (Takmil) Certificate in Qawmi Madrasah Equivalent to Master’s Degree (Islamic Studies and Arabic)’ was framed to bring some 15 lakh students of the country’s Qawmi Madrasah to the mainstream.

The Cabinet Secretary said the proposed law was designed on the basis of the gazette notification the Education Ministry published on April 13, 2017 recognising the Dawrae Hadis degree equivalent to master’s degrees.

The bill will have retrospective effectiveness and those who have so far acquired Dawrae Hadith degrees after the recognition in April, 2017 will be considered as having the master’s degree, he said.

The Cabinet Secretary said there will be a board named ‘Al-Haiyatul Ulia Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh’ integrating the existing six Qawmi Madrasah education boards in the country.

The chairman of Befakul Madrisil Arabiya Bangladesh (one of the existing six boards) will be the ex-officio chairman of the 17-member integrated board. The board chairman can co-opt one or more persons as the members of the board, but the number of such members will not exceed 15.

Shafiul Alam said the board will prepare syllabus, question papers, conduct examinations and award certificates among the students of Qawmi Madrasah.

Besides, the status of the post graduate degree will be effective for the madrasahs which would be registered under the board.