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DHAKA, May 20, 2026 (BSS) - The government has issued new directives to ensure educated and qualified leadership in the management of private madrasahs across the country.

From now on, no person without a bachelor's or equivalent degree can serve as the president of the managing committee of private Dakhil, Alim, and Fazil level madrasahs.

A notification in this regard has been issued recently, signed by Professor Mia Nurul Haque, Chairman of the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board.

According to the notification, the decision aims to improve the quality of madrasah education, increase administrative accountability, and strengthen the management structure in line with the modern education system. 

This new directive will take effect immediately and must be mandatorily followed during the formation or reorganization of madrasah managing committees in the future.

As per the notification, concerned individuals must submit certificates of at least graduation or equivalent educational qualification for nomination or election to the post of Madrasah President. Additionally, any person with serious criminal cases or corruption allegations against them will be considered ineligible.

Officials of the Ministry of Education stated that for a long time, unqualified or uneducated individuals in top positions of management committees in various madrasahs were causing inefficiency in administrative activities. Complaints regarding teacher recruitment, financial management, and the educational environment were also arising. The government has taken this initiative to resolve these issues.

An official of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division said that the current government is implementing various initiatives to integrate madrasah education with the mainstream education system. 

Along with introducing digital education, technical skills, and a modern curriculum, skilled leadership is also required in the administrative field. For this reason, the minimum educational qualification for the post of president has been determined.

"The person in the highest policy-making position of an educational institution needs to be at least highly educated. This will increase transparency and accountability in institutional management," the official added.

The notification further mentions that for currently active committees, these conditions will apply once their current term expires and new committees are formed. 

However, the relevant education board can take necessary measures if there are specific complaints or administrative complexities regarding any committee.

Meanwhile, educationists have welcomed this decision. 

They said it is essential to have a minimum educational qualification for managing educational institutions. This will enhance decision-making efficiency and bring a modern perspective to management.

However, mixed reactions have been observed among some individuals associated with madrasahs. Some believe that in rural areas, many socially acceptable and philanthropic individuals serve as presidents who may not have higher education. Due to the new rules, they may lose the opportunity to serve.

On the other hand, educationists argue that while social acceptance is important, having an understanding of administrative and academic matters is crucial for running an educational institution. In that case, the requirement of a bachelor's degree is a logical decision.

According to experts, this new policy will reduce political or individual influence in madrasah management. At the same time, it will ensure greater transparency in financial management, teacher recruitment, and quality control of education.

Relevant government sources stated that there are plans to bring further reforms to the formation of educational institution management committees in the future. These may include considerations of age, experience, moral qualification, and knowledge of information technology for members.

The stakeholders view this new decision as a part of the modernization of madrasah education. According to them, such policy measures will play an important role in improving the quality of education and building an efficient administrative structure.