Jamia Rahmania Arabia

Jamia Rahmania Arabia is a Qawmi madrasa in the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is regarded as one of the city’s prominent institutions of traditional Islamic education and is associated with the Deobandi-oriented Qawmi madrasa network. The institution provides instruction across a broad range of levels, beginning with maktab education and Qur’an memorization and extending to Dawra-e-Hadith, the highest qualification in the Qawmi madrasa system. Its academic work also includes specialist teaching in Qur’anic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence. The madrasa is affiliated with Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh and has historically been connected with Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an influential organization within Bangladesh’s Qawmi madrasa community. The institution’s origins lie in disputes at Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh during the 1980s. Several teachers, including Azizul Haque and Mansurul Haque, left Lalbagh after disagreements involving the role of political activity in madrasa affairs. The departing teachers initially joined a small institution in Mohammadpur known as Muhammadiya Madrasa. When permanent premises could not be secured and the school became overcrowded, the teachers and students moved to Sat Gambuj Mosque in 1986, operating there in difficult temporary conditions. A permanent site was obtained in Mohammadpur in 1988 after Muhammad Ali and Nur Hossain of Ali & Nur Real Estate donated land following the intervention of senior Islamic scholar Nur Uddin Gohorpuri. A further donation in 1992 brought the site to sixteen katha, on which a five-story building was constructed. The institution was formally established under the name Jamia Rahmania Arabia. Its institutional history has been shaped by recurring disputes over governance, political involvement, and control of the campus. Abdul Ghaffar served as the first formal director until 1990, followed by Ali Asgar and then Azizul Haque. Mansurul Haque remained deputy director during these transitions and, according to accounts of the institution’s history, exercised substantial practical authority. Tensions intensified in the late 1990s because Azizul Haque held leadership roles in political Islamic organizations, while Mansurul Haque and the managing committee emphasized the madrasa constitution’s restriction on political activity. Azizul Haque resigned as director in 1999, but subsequent changes in leadership did not resolve the conflict. By 2000, teachers and students had divided into rival factions. The dispute became an open struggle in 2000 and 2001, including unsuccessful attempts by supporters of Azizul Haque to take control of the institution. On 3 November 2001, Azizul Haque’s faction took control with political support, dismissed Mansurul Haque and approximately thirty-seven other teachers, and dissolved the earlier managing committee. Mansurul Haque subsequently pursued legal action. A 2014 court ruling favored his committee, but effective control remained with Azizul Haque’s faction. After Azizul Haque’s death, his son Mahfuzul Haque became director. The madrasa again became the focus of state intervention in 2021 amid political unrest involving Mamunul Haque, a teacher and son of Azizul Haque who was a prominent figure in Hefazat-e-Islam and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. Following his arrest at the madrasa on 18 April 2021, authorities issued a notice concerning the institution’s premises. The Bangladesh Waqf Administration approved a 21-member management committee on 18 May, and on 18 July the administration placed the madrasa under the management of Mansurul Haque’s supporters, appointing Hifzur Rahman as director. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5 August 2024, control shifted again, and the institution remained under Mahfuzul Haque’s directorship. The madrasa is reported to accommodate approximately 1,500 students and employ around 70 teachers. In addition to classroom teaching, it publishes the Bengali-language monthly Rahmani Paygam, founded in 1998, and supports a student publication known as Alor Michil. Through its teaching programs, publications, scholars, and links with wider religious organizations, Jamia Rahmania Arabia occupies an important place in Bangladesh’s Qawmi madrasa landscape.

Jamia Rahmania Arabia developed out of a group of teachers who departed Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh during the political and administrative disputes of the 1980s. The conflict involved the participation of the Lalbagh institution’s director, Muhammadullah Hafezzi, in political activity and the resulting disagreement over whether teachers and students could engage in politics despite the madrasa constitution’s restrictions. Among those who left were Azizul Haque and Mansurul Haque. The group first joined a small maktab in Mohammadpur operated by Haji Sirajuddaula and overseen by Abul Kalam. It was renamed Muhammadiya Madrasa after Mansurul Haque became involved. Because the promised permanent land did not materialize and the premises became unsuitable for a growing student body, the institution closed. In 1986, Mansurul Haque, together with teachers and students, moved to Sat Gambuj Mosque, where a temporary madrasa operated under austere conditions. Abdul Ghaffar was designated director because Mansurul Haque was considered too young for the formal post, while Mansurul acted as deputy director and practical administrator. Azizul Haque taught as Sheikh al-Hadith. A permanent location was secured in 1988 when Muhammad Ali and Nur Hossain of Ali & Nur Real Estate donated ten katha of land after a request associated with Nur Uddin Gohorpuri. They donated another six katha in 1992. The sixteen-katha site enabled construction of a five-story building and the formal establishment of Jamia Rahmania Arabia. Abdul Ghaffar remained formal director until illness led to his replacement in 1990 by Ali Asgar. When Ali Asgar resigned in 1992, Azizul Haque became director. Mansurul Haque continued as deputy director and retained significant practical influence. During Azizul Haque’s tenure, debates concerning political activity became increasingly divisive. Mansurul Haque and the managing committee supported the constitutional prohibition on politics within the madrasa, while Azizul Haque’s leadership roles in Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis created concerns about political influence even though he personally opposed direct political activity at the institution. Azizul Haque resigned as director in 1999 and agreed to remain a guardian. Bahaauddin succeeded him, but the committee removed Bahaauddin in 2000 and appointed Hifzur Rahman. The underlying dispute then escalated into a division between teachers and students aligned with the managing committee and Mansurul Haque and those supporting Azizul Haque. Azizul Haque was eventually removed from institutional responsibilities, although he continued teaching Sahih al-Bukhari for a period at the request of Nur Uddin Gohorpuri. After failed efforts by his supporters to take the madrasa in May and July 2000, he and several associates were dismissed and moved to a nearby rented building. The political situation changed after the Four-Party Alliance won the 2001 general election. On 3 November 2001, Azizul Haque’s supporters, assisted by Shahidul Islam and the new administration, took control of the madrasa. Mansurul Haque and about thirty-seven teachers were dismissed, and the old managing committee was dissolved. Mansurul Haque relocated to another building and filed a court case. The court ruled in 2014 in favor of his committee, but the ruling did not immediately restore physical control. Azizul Haque died during this period, and his son Mahfuzul Haque became director. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the madrasa was closely associated with Mamunul Haque, another son of Azizul Haque and an influential figure in Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. His opposition to the construction of a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his role in protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought heightened political attention. Following his arrest at the madrasa on 18 April 2021, authorities issued a notice concerning its premises. The Bangladesh Waqf Administration approved a 21-member management committee on 18 May, and the administration assumed control on 18 July, placing the madrasa under Mansurul Haque’s supporters and appointing Hifzur Rahman as director. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5 August 2024, the balance of control changed again. Mansurul Haque’s supporters lost control, and Mahfuzul Haque resumed or retained effective directorship. The madrasa continues to operate as a large Qawmi institution with approximately 1,500 students and 70 teachers. Its educational range includes maktab, Hifz, Tafsir, Fiqh, and Dawra-e-Hadith studies. It also publishes Rahmani Paygam, a Bengali monthly founded in 1998, and supports the student wall magazine Alor Michil.

• 2024

  Mahfuzul Haque’s faction regains control

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  Following the change of national government in August, control returned to the faction associated with Mahfuzul Haque.

• 2021

  State-administered management period begins

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Waqf Administration approved a new committee and the government took control of the madrasa in July.

• 2001

  Control changes after political intervention

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  Azizul Haque’s supporters took control on 3 November, dismissing Mansurul Haque and numerous teachers and replacing the previous management committee.

• 1998

  Rahmani Paygam founded

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  The institution began publishing its Bengali monthly magazine, initially known as Haqq Paygam.

• 1992

  Landholding expanded and permanent building developed

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  A further six katha was donated, creating a sixteen-katha site on which a five-story madrasa building was constructed.

• 1988

  Permanent Mohammadpur site obtained

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  Ali & Nur Real Estate donated ten katha of land, enabling the formal establishment of Jamia Rahmania Arabia.

• 1986

  Temporary madrasa established at Sat Gambuj Mosque

  [1]Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org

  Teachers and students from the displaced Muhammadiya Madrasa moved to Sat Gambuj Mosque and operated a temporary institution while seeking a permanent site.

A major traditional Qawmi madrasa in Dhaka offering comprehensive Islamic education and advanced Hadith training, with a notable institutional role in Bangladesh’s Deobandi and Qawmi religious networks.

• Primary Islamic education

  Maktab education

  Foundational religious instruction for younger learners, covering basic Qur’anic reading, Islamic practices, and introductory religious knowledge.

• Qur'an memorization

  Hifz program

  A memorization track focused on committing the Qur’an to memory and developing the recitation skills expected in traditional madrasa education.

• Qur'anic exegesis

  Tafsir studies

  Specialized study of Qur’anic interpretation, forming part of the institution’s advanced religious curriculum.

• Islamic jurisprudence · 1988

  Fiqh studies

  Instruction in Islamic jurisprudence. A Fiqh department has been associated with the institution since its establishment and is identified with Hifzur Rahman.

• Advanced Hadith education

  Dawra-e-Hadith

  The highest-level Qawmi madrasa course, centered on advanced study of Hadith collections and the scholarly traditions used to interpret them.

• Religious publication · 1998

  Rahmani Paygam

  A Bengali-language monthly magazine founded by Azizul Haque in 1998. It was initially published under the name Haqq Paygam and is identified with Mamunul Haque as its current editor.

• 2021

  Government places the madrasa under an alternative management committeeStrategy

  Background

  The decision followed the arrest of teacher and political figure Mamunul Haque and heightened political tensions surrounding the institution.

  Action taken

  The Bangladesh Waqf Administration approved a 21-member committee in May, and the administration assumed control of the madrasa in July, appointing Hifzur Rahman as director.

  Aftermath

  The institution was managed by Mansurul Haque’s supporters until the political changes of August 2024, after which control returned to Mahfuzul Haque’s faction.

  Source

• 2001

  Factional takeover changes institutional governanceOther

  Background

  A long-running conflict between the Azizul Haque and Mansurul Haque factions culminated after the Four-Party Alliance won the national election.

  Action taken

  On 3 November, Azizul Haque’s supporters took control, dismissed Mansurul Haque and approximately thirty-seven teachers, and dissolved the existing managing committee.

  Aftermath

  Mansurul Haque pursued legal action, and a 2014 court decision favored his committee, although effective control remained with Azizul Haque’s faction for many years.

  Source

1. 1Jamia Rahmania Arabiaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Jamia Rahmania Arabia official websitejamiarahmaniaarabia.com