A five-person inquiry committee was established by the education ministry today to investigate the narrative "Sharifa`s Tale" included in the seventh-grade social science and history textbook.
"Sharifa`s Tale"—found in the chapter "Similarities and Differences Between People"—has garnered a lot of attention lately.
The ministry`s information and PR officer, Mohammad Abul Khair, said in a press release issued today that the committee will assist the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) by conducting a more thorough evaluation of the story.
Prof. Abdul Rashid, vice chancellor of the Islamic Arabic University, will preside over the committee.
The other members are -- Mufti Maulana Kafil Uddin Sarker, governor of the Islamic Foundation; Prof Moshiuzzaman, member of the NCTB; Abdul Halim, director of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) at Dhaka University; and Prof Mohammad Abdur Rashid, principal of Dhaka Alia Madrasa.
After reviewing the content, the committee will provide recommendations to the NCTB.
The announcement comes after a private university teacher recently criticized the textbook`s inclusion of transgender issues, provoking both pro and anti-transgender protests.
