Bangladesh launches inaugural national Tafsir competition to foster Islamic scholarship

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The Bangladeshi government has announced the launch of the country’s inaugural National Tafsir Competition, a government-led initiative aimed at promoting Quranic scholarship and fostering moral values within society. Organized by the Islamic Foundation, the program serves as a cornerstone of the current administration’s first 180-day action plan and its electoral manifesto.

The competition seeks to cultivate a new generation of skilled scholars, researchers, and public speakers while encouraging in-depth study of the Quranic exegesis. Interested Bangladeshi nationals are invited to apply online by August 31. To qualify, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in spoken Arabic and possess foundational knowledge in fields such as Hadith, Fiqh, Arabic grammar, and the principles of Tafsir.

The tournament is structured into two age-restricted categories for individuals under 30. Group A is tailored for students currently enrolled in advanced Islamic studies, including Fazil and Dawra-e-Hadith, with a curriculum covering Surahs Al-Fatiha, Al-Baqarah, and Al-Alaq. Group B is reserved for experienced professionals, including Madrasa teachers, Imams, researchers, writers, and cultural activists. Participants in this category will focus on Surahs An-Nur, Yasin, Al-Hujurat, Ar-Rahman, and Al-Waqi’ah.

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The selection process will begin at the divisional level across the country’s eight administrative divisions. Winners at this stage will receive cash prizes ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 taka, alongside crests and certificates. Divisional victors will then be invited to Dhaka for a week of specialized training before competing in the national grand finale.

At the national level, the top three performers in each group will be awarded 200,000, 150,000, and 100,000 taka, respectively. In total, the government has allocated 1.62 million taka in prize money for winners across both divisional and national tiers. Prospective contestants are required to submit their applications through the Islamic Foundation’s official portal, specifying the divisional office through which they intend to compete.