Old Town Municipality finances reconstruction of Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa courtyard

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Mayor Ibrahim Hadžibajrić and Director of Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa Dr. Mensur Malkić signed an agreement today on financing the second phase of reconstruction of the Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa courtyard, according to which the Old Town Municipality will fully finance these works with an amount of 70,900 KM. The first phase of courtyard reconstruction was completed two years ago and was also financed from the Old Town Municipality budget, in the amount of 99,000 KM. Upon completion of the second phase, the entire courtyard will be reconstructed, and for the first time, Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa will have an adequate access for persons with disabilities.

As stated by the Director of Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa, Dr. Malkić, this school has been educating students continuously for 483 years, preparing them for the times they will live in and the challenges they will face.

“I want to remind you that this courtyard, or this great donation and gift, will be used daily by about 500 students of Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa, which is the number enrolled and attending our school this year. Of course, it will also be used by future generations and all those who will visit Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa. I believe that this project and donation will significantly contribute to the quality of teaching and extracurricular activities,” said Director Malkić.

“I take this opportunity to warmly thank the Mayor of the Old Town Municipality, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, for this great donation and gift, aware of the words of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who said: 'He who is not grateful to people is not grateful to God,'” added Dr. Malkić.

Mayor Hadžibajrić emphasized that this cooperation was unquestionable and that more attention should be paid to Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa, which is the only school in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there are not many in the world, that has been operating continuously for over 480 years.

“The Old Town Municipality always stands at the disposal of institutions of this kind. We must not overlook that we are in the courtyard of one of the oldest educational institutions in this part of Europe, which has been operating for 483 years. I emphasize this because I believe that the University of Sarajevo should also consider the year 1537 for its founding, not 1949,” said Mayor Hadžibajrić.

“Many European cities did not have their universities and faculties at a time when Sarajevo had Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa, where numerous learned people from BiH and the region were educated,” he added.

In addition to the courtyard reconstruction, it was also highlighted that the Old Town Municipality financed, with an amount of 10,000 KM, the construction of a memorial to the imams who died during the aggression against BiH from 1992-1995, which is also located in this courtyard. Mayor Hadžibajrić and Director Malkić, in the presence of associates, toured the part of the courtyard that is to be reconstructed, as well as the part where the works have already been completed. It was emphasized that the reconstruction should begin very soon, and that the contractor has already been selected by the Public Institution Gazi Husrev-beg's Madrasa.