Dhaka: Following the ban on Mumbai-based controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's Peace TV in Bangladesh, schools in the country bearing the name "Peace" have now come under government scanner.
The schools, in the capital city Dhaka as well as in other regions of Bangladesh, are allegedly being operated in line with the controversial Islamic preacher’s ideals by adding ‘Peace’ to their names, bdnews24 reported.
Bangladesh government banned Peace TV in the country after allegations against Naik were levelled that at least two of the terrorists involved in last week’s attack in Dhaka were inspired by him. 22 civilians and two policemen were killed in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan locality.
"Peace TV is not consistent with Muslim society, the Quran, Sunnah, Hadith, Bangladesh's Constitution, our culture, customs and rituals," Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said.
Naik, 50, is a qualified doctor who left his profession and founded the Islamic Research Foundation, which runs the Islamic International School and an NGO United Islamic Aid.
The Bangladesh government does not have any specific information on how many schools were being operated with the word "Peace" in their name, bdnews24 reported.
The Dhaka education board said it only approved temporarily an English-medium school at Lalmatia to operate under the name Peace School. The others do not have any such permission.
"First the authorities establish an educational institution. They apply for government approval after reaching a certain stage. The government then inspects the institution and takes a decision on whether to give it permission to continue operating," the official said.
None of these "Peace Schools" in Dhaka had applied for permission to the ministry or the board, an Education Ministry official said.
Intelligence agencies were asked to inquire into the 20 "Peace Schools" so far detected by the government.
"If these schools actually follow Zakir Naik's ideas, they will face action," the officials said.
