Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09DHAKA233, BANGLADESH: SOME UNREGULATED MADRASSAS OPEN TO

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09DHAKA233.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09DHAKA233 2009-03-04 10:54 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dhaka
VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKA #0233/01 0631054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD397558 MSI3944-695)
O 041054Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8404
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2002
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS DHAKA 000233 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION 
DEPARTMENT FOR USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER EDU BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: SOME UNREGULATED MADRASSAS OPEN TO 
GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT 
 
------ 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1. (SBU) PolOff visited three madrassa religious schools not 
regulated by the government on 2/24 and found educators 
willing to accept some official oversight. They all expressed 
deep concern that without adopting government-approved 
curricula their students would continue to fail to qualify 
for mainstream institutions of higher education and face 
bleak job prospects. The visits suggested that Post's 1207 
proposal to support increased government regulation and 
oversight of madrassas would have a receptive audience among 
the targeted schools. Helping the Government of Bangladesh 
introduce an official secular curriculum to non-regulated 
religious schools should help reduce the allure of Islamic 
extremism by expanding opportunities for students to become 
productive members of society. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
QUOMI MADRASSAS: FILLING THE GAPS IN EDUCATION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2. (SBU) Qawmi madrassas are non-regulated private religious 
schools that do not receive government support, in contrast 
to Alia madrassas, which are nominally state-regulated and 
receive some state funding. (Note: "Qawmi" is just one of 
several alternative spellings for the non-regulated 
madrassas. End note.) Estimates of the number of Qawmi 
madrassas in Bangladesh range widely from 23,000 to 57,000; 
their frequent offers of free room, board and tuition are 
hard for many parents in this poverty-stricken country to 
turn down. Still, murky funding, sometime inflammatory 
teaching materials, and -- in some cases -- connections with 
radically conservative elements indicate the Government of 
Bangladesh has abdicated an important role by failing to 
regulate the Qawmi madrassas. Perhaps even more important, 
Qawmi madrassa courses typically do not prepare students with 
marketable skills and leave them unqualified to enter 
mainstream institutions of higher education. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
QAWMI EDUCATORS ACKNOWLEDGE CURRICULUM PROBLEMS 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
3. (SBU) PolOff on 2/24 visited three all-male Qawmi 
madrassas in Rajshahi city and its environs in northwest 
Bangladesh. All three campuses appeared tranquil and their 
senior educators were exceedingly friendly. The first, Jamia 
Islamia Shah Makhdum Madrassa, is in central Rajshahi along 
the banks of the slow-moving Padma (Ganges) River. Orphans 
and children from poor families account for most of its 232 
students; school funding comes from community contributions 
and monthly donations from an affiliated, prosperous shrine. 
The second, Rajshahi Darul Ulum Madrasa, has only 32 
students, a drop from more than 300 caused by a sharp 
downturn in support from local benefactors due to tough 
economic times. The fish pond and mango grove that provide a 
pastoral setting for the rural school, a 10-minute drive 
outside Rajshahi, generate income to keep the school from 
closing. The third, Kaderia Bakhshia Anwarul Ulum Madrassa, 
has 150 students living on its sprawling campus next to a 
children's amusement park. Donations from followers of an 
Islamic saint buried on the madrassa grounds, including some 
from India and Pakistan, supplement student fees of about $6 
a month for tuition and food. 
 
4. (SBU) Principals and headmasters from all three madrassas 
decried the dearth of job and education opportunities 
awaiting their students. Mufti Shahadat Ali, principal at the 
madrassa on the Padma, said most of his graduates became 
religious teachers. None had gone on to university except a 
few who first attended a government-regulated Alia madrassa. 
Principal Saifuddin at the rural madrassah, which provides 
education through seventh grade, said the only options for 
his students were to move on to another madrassa or become a 
religious teacher. "There aren't many choices," he said while 
twirling his black-and-gray beard. "Many people are losing 
interest in sending their children to Qawmi madrassas," added 
Mazhrul Islam, headmaster at the third school. "It's hard to 
get jobs." 
 
5. (SBU) All three madrassas have incorporated at least some 
non-religious courses into their curriculum, most commonly 
Bangla language, English, mathematics, science and social 
studies. Jamia Islamia madrassa said it offered 
 
 
extracurricular computer courses to its eldest students as 
well. But the quality of the education appeared suspect at 
best. The English textbook for fifth grade students at Jamia 
Islamia used colonial-era language and was a jumble of poor 
grammar and punctuation. At Kaderia madrassa, a 12-year-old 
who said, in Bangla, that his favorite class was English did 
not appear to understand simple questions asked by PolOff. 
Even when prompted in Bangla, he did not say a single word in 
English. 
 
6. (SBU) To varying degrees, educators at all three schools 
expressed a desire to come under state guidance. Although 
they expressed concern that adopting government curriculum 
could dilute the Islamic education, they said they had no 
other recourse. "We fear losing some of the emphasis on 
religion," acknowledged Mazhrul Islam. Yet he said 
administrators of his madrassa decided in January to convert 
to a government-regulated Alia school. He explained: "We are 
trying to educate our children in the Koran and Hadith (the 
words and deeds of the Prophet Mohammad), but we also want 
them to get government jobs and other opportunities." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
CONCLUSION: A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR 1207 SPENDING 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
7. (SBU) While visits to three Qawmi madrassas admittedly can 
provide only anecdotal insight, there can be little doubt 
that many unregulated religious schools are receptive to 
government oversight. Madrassa receptivity to curriculum 
reform will be gauged during a March visit by three American 
Islamic educators. Post's 1207 proposal is designed to 
support increased regulation of Qawmi madrassas by, among 
many steps, introducing a minimum secular curriculum and by 
training oversight boards. The proposal would focus on the 
Rajshahi region, where Islamic extremist groups typically 
have made the strongest inroads. Upon leaving the Jamia 
Islamia madrassa, PolOff was surprised when the principal 
engulfed him in a warm, five-second bear hug. That's at least 
one madrassa educator who does not find distasteful the 
prospect of USG assistance in helping establish a credible 
secular curriculum. 
MORIARTY