A legal notice has been sent to remove the story of Sharif and Sharifa from class VII history and social science textbooks.

Desk Report:

Supreme Court lawyer Md. Mahmudul Hasan sent this notice on Thursday (January 25).

This notice has been sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).

The notice states that Sharifa’s story is told in Class-VII’s History and Social Science Book. Here it was mentioned that “Sharif Ahmed is a boy and according to all his organs, he is a boy. But he thinks that he is a girl. So he changed her name to “Sharifa”.” It is admitted here that “Sharif Ahmed has not undergone any physical changes. Only mentally thinks he is a girl”.

The legal notice said that this story has attracted young students towards transgenders. It is creating motivation in a tactic way transgenders in the minds of young students. “Transgender and third-gender” are not the same, they are different. Third genders are born with some deformities. It is given by the Creator. But transgender people don’t have physical defects, they are “mentally disturbed”. For example, a transgender man thinks he is a woman. A female transgender, on the other hand, thinks she is a man.

These transgenders indulge in “deviant sex”. The perverted sexual behavior of these transgenders is completely illegal and a punishable offense as per the laws of Bangladesh.

According to 377 of the Penal Code, sexual intercourse between man-man and woman-woman and against natural law is punishable by “life imprisonment or ten years imprisonment and fine”. In this case, even if there is a consent of both parties, this section will be punishable. In this case, in paragraph 8 of BLC 19(HD) 171, the High Court said that “in the case of crime under Section 377 of the Penal Code, even if both consent, they will not be exempted.”

The legal notice mentioned that Class-VII textbooks are attracting young students to these perverted sexual tastes and mentally disturbed transgenders. Besides, efforts are being made to promote the activities of these “mentally disturbed people” in the textbooks. By doing this, the religious beliefs of the vast Muslim population of the country are being hurt.

Article 2-A of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the State religion of the Republic is Islam. On the other hand, every citizen has the right to adopt and practice religion as per Article 41 (1) of the Constitution.

In this case, the religion of the Muslim community is being hurt by promoting the activities of transgenders in the textbooks of the country. Perverted sexual behavior, same-sex is strictly prohibited in Islam. Hence Section 295 of the Penal Code is violated by offending the religious beliefs of the Muslim community which is a punishable offence.

Within 30 days of receiving the notice, all educational institutions and bookshops should withdraw the book including the story of Sharifa from class VII history and social science textbooks and provide revised books to the students. Otherwise, a writ petition will be filed in the High Court according to Article 102 of the Constitution to take action in this matter, said the lawyer.