Draft:Gwalgram 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:


 * The madrasa serves as a mosque for its students, teachers, and the local community. Dormitory students and local Muslims offer their prayers here. The students also pray in the Madrasah Tiffin area. Hostel and Lillah Boarding: The madrasa provides a hostel for students from distant areas. Here, impoverished and needy students receive free or low-cost lodging and meals. This Lillah Boarding operates through donations from benefactors and the madrasa's funds. A large kitchen has been built to cater to the hostel students. Hafz Khana: The Hafeziya madrasa's Maktab wing offers instruction in the proper recitation of the Qur'an from an early age. Students of the madrasa can receive specialized training in Quranic recitation here.  Orphanage: An orphanage within the madrasa accommodates students who cannot afford its expenses. Orphans receive free lodging and meals.  Madrasa Pond: The campus includes a large sand-cement embanked pond where the hostel students perform ablutions.  Library: The madrasa boasts a central library where students and teachers access a collection of necessary books. Students from Fazil and Kamil classes often borrow books from this library.  Playground: The madrasa features a vast playground where students engage in regular sports activities. They participate in various sports events at the district and upazila levels and gather in this field daily before classes commence.  Post Office: The madrasa campus used to house a post office, which is now seldom used.  Bank Branch: A branch of the Bangladesh Agricultural Bank is located on the madrasa campus. Additionally, a large mosque has been constructed nearby.