'Ekra Quran Academy', an institution to teach students reading and to memorise the holy Quran from heart established 14 years ago at Bashar Road area under Boalia police station under Rajshahi city, is on the verge of closure due to the lack of necessary funds.
It is learnt, an Australian immigrant established Ekra Academy to teach the holy Quran to the students free of cost. Only teacher of the academy Hajera Begum has been teaching her students without any salary for the last 14 years. After completing their studies, the students were given a copy of the Holy Quran from the institution. But, last three years ago during the Corona epidemic, the sponsor of the academy went back to Australia and thereafter, the academy fell into multifarious crises and the institution was declared closed. But, teacher Hajera Begum, in cooperation with local people resumed the activities of the institution in a rented house with her 75 students. Now, due to a lack of proper patronisation, the institution is on the verge of closure again.
Teacher Hajera Begum informed that she has been continuing to teach the students without any tuition fees but she has no ability to pay the house rent of the institution any more. Moreover, there is no required number of books of the Holy Quran and the Ampara for the students.
She further said, the owner of the house Abdul Hye has requested her to pay the arrear house rent within this month or to quit the house. Getting no way to pay the house rent, teacher Hajera Begum is extremely worried about the teaching of the Holy Quran to her 75 students.
Hajera Begum informed, by seeking donations from local people, she had been continuing the activities of the 'Ikra Quran Academy' for the last 14 years but now it has turned almost impossible to run the academy further because of the lack of patronisation. Now, the house owner is demanding the rent and asked her to either pay the rent or quit. She further mentioned, nowadays only a few people want to assist with any good job and many people even insult her. But, she hoped, some people will come forward to assist her to continue to run this 14-year-old institution which has so far helped over 2,000 pupils to learn to read and memorise the holy Quran.
