Madrasa of JMB founder Shaykh Abdur Rahman reopened after two decades

The madrasa of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) founder Shaykh Abdur Rahman has been reopened after a gap of two decades. The institution, which was shut down in 2005 after JMB's activities came to light, is now running its educational programmes anew.

The madrasa, named 'Charshi Habirunnesa Hafizia Madrasa', is located in the Char Shi Khalifapara area of Titpalla union under Jamalpur Sadar upazila. It was founded in 1975 by Shaykh Abdur Rahman's father, Maulana Abdullah Ibn Fazl, also known as Fazl Munshi. The madrasa was closed after the militant activities of his two sons — JMB founder Shaykh Abdur Rahman and leader Ataur Rahman Sani — came to light in 2005.

JMB carried out coordinated bombings in 63 districts of the country (excluding Munshiganj) on August 17, 2005. The organisation, formed in the last decade of the last century, was also responsible for brutal killings in Bagmara, Rajshahi, in the name of suppressing leftists. A court sentenced Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, JMB founder Shaykh Abdur Rahman, Ataur Rahman Sani, Abdul Awwal, Khaled Saifullah and Salahuddin to death for the killing of two judges in Jhalakathi. The sentences were carried out in March 2007.

In early 2025, Maulana Obaidur Rahman, another brother of Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Ataur Rahman Sani, began the institutional and teaching activities of the madrasa. At one time, there were allegations that Shaykh Abdur Rahman used to run militant training programmes at this madrasa.

According to local sources, Maulana Obaidur Rahman is the director of the madrasa, Md Zakaria Hossain is the head teacher, and Maulana Md Aminul Islam, vice-principal of a madrasa in Tangail district, is the president of the managing committee.

Assistant teacher Hafez Md Rakib said classes are held from playgroup to fifth grade. A total of over one hundred students are taught in Bengali and Nurani methods. Monthly tuition fees range from Tk 200 to Tk 500 per student depending on grade.

Assistant director Md Shahjaman said there are 11 staff members, including three female assistant teachers, four male teachers including the head teacher, and the rest are staff. All are local residents.

Head teacher Md Zakaria Hossain said the madrasa was very active around 2000. However, at that time, neither the teachers nor the students were local residents; they came from outside. No one could enter the madrasa then, so no one could see or understand what was happening inside. It is heard that a 'cadet section' was taught there.

Zakaria Hossain claimed that the situation is now completely opposite. The madrasa doors are always open. Anyone can enter and visit at any time. Teachers and students are all local. The madrasa has been running for a year and a half.

Madrasa director Maulana Obaidur Rahman said he reopened the madrasa after the 2024 mass uprising. Renovation work was carried out, and the madrasa began operations in 2025. He said the madrasa was not closed by anyone or any authority but became inoperative as family members could not give time to it. Therefore, no permission was sought to reopen it.

Jamalpur Sadar upazila secondary education officer Mohammad Sanoar Hossain said he was not aware of the matter.

Jamalpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmus Sakib said police are monitoring the situation round the clock, keeping a watch on the movements and activities of concerned individuals.