Legal Notice Served To Drop ‘Sharifa's Tale’ From Class 7 Books

A legal notice has been served by Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hassan, calling for the removal of 'Sharifa's Tale' from class VII history and social science textbooks.

The notice, sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), contends that the story, which discusses Sharif Ahmed identifying as a girl without undergoing physical changes, is subtly influencing students towards transgender acceptance.

The legal notice demands the withdrawal of the entire book, along with the exclusion of 'Sharifa's Story,' from class VII history and social science textbooks in all educational institutions and bookstores within 30 days. It further requires revised textbooks to be provided to students, with a threat of filing a writ petition in the High Court under Article 102 of the Constitution if the demand is not met.

The controversy revolves around a chapter in the seventh-grade history and social science textbook, designed to raise awareness about the transgender community.

The issue gained traction when a part-time teacher at BRAC University tore pages from the book during an event, leading to the viral spread of the incident on social media. Subsequently, the Ministry of Education established a high-level expert committee to review the content of 'Sharifa's Tale.'