Using students in politics is wrong: Khatib of Baitul Mukarram

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka, Saturday, August 23, 2025

Using students in politics is ‘oppression’, un-Islamic teaching of knowledge and science is also ‘huge oppression’ – Khatib of Baitul Mukarram.

Mufti Abdul Malek, the Khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, has termed the use of students in politics as ‘oppression’. He said that political parties are using college, university and madrasa students for their own interests, which is unfair to the students.

He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled ‘For the dignity, safety and awareness of women’ at the Krishibid Institution in the capital on Saturday. Mufti Malek said,

“Every political party has a student organization. Why is this? It is oppression. Using students in politics is oppression on them. Even Islamic parties use madrasa students in this way, which is completely unfair.”

He further said, “Teaching secular knowledge and science in atheism and un-Islamic ways is a huge oppression in Muslim countries. Students must be protected from this oppression.” He stressed the urgent need to prevent students from getting involved in party politics.

In the seminar, she discussed the rights of workers, owners and students as well as women’s rights. She said, “The rights of people from all walks of life are being violated. Students are being deprived of their rights in various ways.” The seminar was organized to mark the launch of an Islamic organization called Insaf Foundation. The organization’s general secretary, Abul Bashar Muhammad Saiful Islam, presented an article at the seminar.

Mufti Abdul Malek’s statement has sparked a new debate on the use of students in the political arena. He strongly criticized the use of students as a tool of politics, diverting them from the main purpose of education and acquiring knowledge. According to him, students should be kept away from politics and given the opportunity to utilize their talents and potential. In addition, he also expressed concern about the method of teaching knowledge and science, which, according to him, conflicts with the values ​​of Muslim society. This statement has further emphasized the need to establish a healthy relationship between education and politics.