Legal notice seeks removal of Darwin's theory from Class 9-10 science textbook
Lawyer states that teaching evolution creates pressure on young minds and should be reserved for higher levels for research purposes, not for secondary education
A Supreme Court (SC) lawyer today (17 August) sent a legal notice to the authorities concerned, including the Ministry of Education, demanding the removal of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection from the science textbook for Class 9-10.
Speaking to reporters, SC lawyer Sarwar Hossain said that if steps are not taken in response to the notice, he will file a writ petition with the High Court.
According to Sarwar, the theory was included in the curriculum during the previous Awami League government, reportedly at the initiative of Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, and has since drawn criticism and debate, including discussions in parliament.
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He argued that secondary-level students should not be taught the theory, claiming that many international curricula, including Cambridge, do not include it at that level.
"Teaching evolution creates unnecessary pressure on young minds. It may be taught at higher levels for research purposes, but not in secondary education," he said.
Sarwar further stated that the notice was sent in public interest as Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country.
"We believe that humanity began with Adam and Eve, as mentioned in Islam. Evolutionary theory, which claims humans originated from apes, contradicts this," he said.
