Draft:Goalgram Kamil Madrasa

'''Gowalgram Kamil Madrasa is a notable Aliya Madrasa in Kashiani Upazila of Gopalganj District under Dhaka Division. The madrasa was established in 1948 by a Sufi named Muhammad Abdus Sattar. The Kamil and Fazil levels of the madrasa are affiliated to the Islamic Arabic University of Dhaka, and the Dakhil and Alim levels are administered by the Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board. Madrasa students have good results in various public examinations including Dakhil, Alim. The madrasah has an orphanage, lillah boarding residential hostel, dam pond, conservatory and mosque. The current principal of the madrasa is Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Miah. The madrasa has been recognized as the best educational institution at the upazila and district level several times during the National Education Week. At present, the founder's step son Maulana ASM Azizur Rahman Abu Saleh is serving as the president of the Madrasa management committee.'''

History
After completing his studies at Calcutta University Sufi Muhammad Abdus Sattar started worked there as a registrar. Later he became a murid to Pir Allama Nesaruddin of Barisal Charchina Darbar, and sought permission to establish a mosque. But Pir Sahib advised him to establish a madrasa. In that context, he established this madrasa in 1948. He constructed a do-chala golpata house in his house and started the madrasa activities. The madrasa was established in the then larger Faridpur district, now located at Goalgram in Mahmudpure union of Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj district.

At first his family members and relatives strongly opposed the establishment of the madrasa, as they were highly educated in the general stream, yet he established the madrasa out of a strong desire. He dedicated most of his wealth to this madrasa. However, some Islamic personalities cooperated and supported in establishing the madrasa, among them Alhaj Momjed Miah, Md. Ismail Mia, Md. Khorshed Sardar is particularly notable. Abdus Sattar Sufi used to go from village to village collecting money from donor members to run madrasas at that time. After the death of Abdus Sattar Sufi, Alhaj Monir Hossain Bhulu Mia took over the Madrasah, he has contributed a lot to the development of the Madrasah. Thereafter the founder's son Muhammad AN Karim served as the director of the madrasa.

Institutinal Recognition
The madrasa received Dakhil level permission in 1954 and Alim level permission in 1959 from the East Pakistan Board of Education. Thereafter, as the education progressed and the number of students continued to increase, Fazil Level was allowed to open on 23 December 1962 by the East Pakistan Education Board vide Memorandum No. 11782/G-20. After that, when Bangladesh gained independence, on January 1, 1986, Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board allowed Hadith subject at Kamil level, (Memorandum No. 228/7). And the Madrasa was recognized as a full-fledged Kamil Madrasa in 1992 as per Memorandum 2448/5. In 1999, the Kamil level of the madrasa was admitted as an MPO institution as per Memorandum No. 139/6. The madrasa was upgraded to Kamil level with the efforts of former Food Minister. Briefly, the Madrasa was recognized by Dakhil in 1954, Alim in 1959, Fazil in 1962 and Kamil in 1992.

University affiliation
Until 2006, the Bangladesh Madrasa Board primarily governed all Aliya Madrasa classes in Bangladesh, including Fazil and Kamil. Subsequently, the Bangladesh government considered granting graduation status to the Fazil class of Madrasa. Consequently, the Islamic University Act was revised in 2006, leading to the affiliation of Aliya Madrasa with Kushtia Islamic University, and the elevation of Fazil and Kamil classes to undergraduate and postgraduate levels, respectively. In 2016, with the establishment of a new affiliating university, the Aliya Madrasahs were then affiliated with the Islamic Arabic University..

Educational activities
The madrasa received authorization to establish a science department at the Dakhil level on November 23, 1984, according to Memorandum No. RIC/4467/5. However, only the general section is offered at the Alim level. The Fazil level includes a pass degree, and the Kamil level offers a Hadith department. All classes at the madrasa adhere to the Alia Madrasa syllabus. Students from the madrasa consistently achieve strong results in various public examinations, including the Dakhil and Alim.

Co-educational programs
The Madrasah excels in academic education and a range of co-curricular activities. It consistently engages in diverse events such as weekly jalsa debates, milad mahfils, cultural programs, annual waj mahfils, scouting, sports, tree planting, and vegetable cultivation. Additionally, the madrasah organizes educational tours annually. Students from the madrasah are frequent participants in various activities, including scout jamborees.

Facilities
This madrasa boasts a range of facilities. The campus is lush with greenery. The madrasa spans 11 acres of land, which helps support its expenses. It features 38 dorm rooms and 5 washrooms. Notable facilities includes:


 * A huge mosque has been built around the madrasa for the students and teachers of the madrasa and local people. Dormitory students, local Muslims pray in this mosque. Students pray here in Madrasah Tiffin. Hostel and Lillah Boarding: A hostel has been established in the madrasa for distant students. In these hostels, poor, needy students get free or low cost accommodation and food. This Lillah Boarding is conducted with donations from donor members and madrasa fund. A huge kitchen has been constructed for the students of the hostel. Hafz Khana: A Hafeziya madrasah's Maktab wing is open to teach students the correct recitation of the Qur'an at an early age. Madrasa students can take separate training in Quran recitation here.  Orphanage: Students who are unable to afford the madrasa expenses, are accommodated in this orphanage. Students who do not have their parents get free accommodation and meals here.  Madrasa Pond: The Madrasa campus has a large sand-cement embanked pond in which Madrasa hostel students can take ablution.  Library: The madrasa has a central library. From here students and teachers can read the necessary book collection. Many times students of Fazil and Kamil classes are provided with books from this library.  Playground: The madrasa has a huge playground. Students regularly play sports here. Madrasah students participate in various sports events at the district-upazila level. Every day in this field, students assemble before starting classes.  Post Office: There was a post office on the madrasa campus, though it is not used much now.  Bank Branch: There is a Bangladesh Agricultural Bank branch in the Madrasa campus.

Annotation
He himself studied and worked in Calcutta University. His wife was the daughter of the then eminent lawyer and minister Muhammad Abdus Salam. One of his sons was teaching at Dhaka University and another son completed his doctorate in London and entered the service there. In addition to Momjed, Ismail, Khorshed, Mohammad Saheb Ali, Mohammad Yusuf Munshi, Mohammad Abdul Haque, Md. Mokched Molla, Muha. Samed Mia, Muha. Golam Saroar provided round the clock assistance.

Courses taught in the Madrasah are: Bengali, English, Mathematics, Quran, Hadith, Arabic 1st & 2nd Paper, Fiqh 1st & 2nd Paper, Geography, History, Social Science, Physical Science, Chemistry, Agricultural Education, Islamic, Balagat, Mantik.Municipal Policy, Economics Tafsir and Usule Tafsir.