Al Jamiatul Arabia Nasirul Islam
Al Jamiatul Arabia Nasirul Islam, commonly known as Nazirhat Bara Madrasa, is a Qawmi madrasa located in Nazirhat, Fatikchhari Upazila, in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh. It was established in 1912 by Sufi Azizur Rahman and two associates. Although it is one of the earliest Qawmi madrasas in the country, the Dawra-e-Hadith program—the highest level of Qawmi education—was not introduced until about 70 years after its founding. Infrastructure and academic programs were expanded during the period when Shamsuddin served in an administrative capacity. As of 2025, the institution is led by Habibur Rahman Qasmi. Since 1993, it has published a monthly periodical titled Dawatul Haq, which functions as its official publication.
History
The madrasa was founded in 1912 at Nazirhat, Fatikchhari Upazila, Chittagong, modeled after Darul Uloom Hathazari. The founders included Azizur Rahman Miyaji of Nazirhat, local landowner Ashraf Ali, and Sufi Azizur Rahman of Babunagar. Sufi Azizur Rahman served as the institution's first director. In 1925, Nur Ahmad succeeded him in this role. Following an eye operation in 1961, Shamsuddin was appointed as a teacher and took on the madrasa's financial responsibilities. After Nur Ahmad's death on March 6, 1978, the Majlis-e-Shura appointed Shamsuddin as director, a position he held for over two decades. His tenure marked significant institutional development. After his death, Shah Muhammad Idris became director and remained in office until his death on May 28, 2020. Subsequently, Assistant Director Habibur Rahman Qasemi began serving in an acting capacity. However, on June 17, 2020, Shah Ahmad Shafi, acting as mutawalli, appointed Education Director Salimullah to the directorship, which triggered objections from Shura members and local residents who demanded a formal consultative process.Tensions escalated into a physical altercation on September 24 between supporters of opposing factions, prompting the local administration to enforce Section 144 and temporarily close the madrasa for ten days. Approximately ten individuals were injured. Fatikchhari Member of Parliament Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari intervened and brokered a temporary resolution, after which a Shura meeting was scheduled for October 28. Prior to the meeting, Salimullah held a press conference on October 24, which led to student protests and renewed clashes, disrupting the event and causing further injuries. The formal Shura meeting took place under administrative oversight, with Shura members including Muhibbullah Babunagari, Abdul Halim Bukhari, Junaid Babunagari, and Nurul Islam Jihadi in attendance. Following the meeting, Habibur Rahman Qasmi was officially appointed director, while Junaid Babunagari was named mutawalli. Salimullah was removed from all institutional responsibilities, and thirteen teachers aligned with him were dismissed from their posts.