The High Court has suspended a decision by Islamic Arabic University to dissolve the governing bodies of Fazil and Kamil madrasas across Bangladesh.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Shikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the order on Monday following a writ petition. Advocate Parvez Hossain represented the petitioner during the hearing.

On October 19, Islamic Arabic University (IAU) authorities had dissolved the governing bodies of all Fazil and Kamil madrasas under its administration.

The decision was announced in an official order signed by the university’s Registrar, Professor Dr AK Muhammad Nurul Islam.

According to the order, the decision was taken in line with a resolution adopted at the university’s 43rd Syndicate meeting held on October 15.

The university had also outlined arrangements for forming ad hoc committees under Clause 1(b)(1) and (3) of Section (b) of the Islamic Arabic University Third Statute, 2023.

Under the proposed arrangements, the respective deputy commissioners were nominated as chairpersons of madrasas located in district headquarters, while additional deputy commissioners were nominated for institutions outside district headquarters.

District education officers were nominated as education-expert members at the district level, while upazila secondary education officers were designated for madrasas at the upazila level.

The university had instructed the madrasas to submit proposals for approval of their ad hoc committees as soon as possible, using the prescribed forms and following the relevant regulations.

The High Court’s latest order suspends the university’s decision to dissolve the existing governing bodies.