The High Court today rejected two separate writ petitions challenging the legality of the government decision to recognise Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to master's degree.

The bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan rejected the petitions considering that they were not moved properly.

“We will move a new writ petition before the High Court challenging the gazette notification when it will come into execution,” Advocate Kamal Hosain Miah, the lawyer for a petitioner, told The Daily Star.

He also said Muzaffar Ahmed, secretary general of Bangladesh Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat Samonnay Committee, and its follower Md Fazlul Huq recently filed the writ petitions with the HC saying that the government decision recognising Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to master's degree is against the national education policy and the constitution.

A Qawmi madras student can get Dawra degree after completing 10 or 11 classes, but a student has to achieve master’s degree after completing 17 classes under the national education policy, Advocate Kamal said citing from the writ petition.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 11 announced the government will recognise Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to master's degree.

On April 13, the government issued a gazette notification on this issue.