They found the deal undesirable and said it is against the spirit of the country's independence.

In his reaction to The Daily Star, National Professor Kabir Chowdhury said, "This is against the spirit of our independence."

"No one could support this," the national professor said hoping the other parties of the 14-party alliance will protest it.

However, he said, "Religion is everybody's individual matter. The state should not interfere in it."

Educationist Professor Anisuzzaman said, "If it's true, it is unfortunate."

"This is against the country's progress," Anisuzzaman said in his reaction.

"What has been said in the deal about Kawmi Madrasha will be harmful for our education system," he felt.

Anisuzzaman said, "One part of the deal is related with 'fatwa,' which has been declared illegal by the High Court."

Renowned child novelist Muhammad Jafar Iqbal said, "I am very much upset hearing this...I am still in shock."

"I can't believe though I heard this with my own," Jafar Iqbal, who teaches at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet.

It is hard to believe that the party, which is supposed to uphold the spirit of the independence, could sign such accord.

Former adviser Sultana Kamal and also a human rights activist said, "The deal is totally undesirable."

"It will violate the people's basic rights," she observed.

Barrister Tania Ameer said, "I find it totally unacceptable and unbelievable. It is also inconsistent with the 23-point charter of the grand alliance."

She remembered late Awami League leader Ivy Rahman with deep sorrow and respect who, according to Tania, was a great soldier against fatwa.