Students, teachers and guardians have once again taken to the streets, demanding removal and punishment of the headmaster of Santhia Government Pilot Model High School, Pabna for his alleged involvement in various
irregularities
They staged demonstrations on Wednesday and Thursday, protesting various irregularities, including abuse of power, corruption, misappropriation of money and making immoral proposals to female students against Bijoy Kumar Debnath, the headmaster of the school. They once again filed a written complaint with the Director General of the Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education seeking the removal of the headteacher. After the protest march, they also filed a written complaint with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, citing seven irregularities, including making bad proposals to students, collecting extra money without receipts, harassing and torturing protesting students, and verbally abusing students.
The agitating teachers alleged that during the previous regime, Pabna-1 constituency lawmaker deputy speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku helped appoint incompetent headmaster Bijoy Kumar Debnath in exchange for money. Since joining, there have been allegations of financial irregularities, abuse of power, inefficiency in school management, misbehaving with teachers, students and parents, and depriving teachers of their fair dues against the headmaster. Besides, he is allegedly involved in various misdemeanours, including violating coaching business 2012 and harassing and torturing protesting students and teachers in various ways, said the aggrieved teachers.
“We could not protest for a long time. When we went to protest, we were harassed and tortured in various ways. Today is the time to protest,” said a teacher.
They demanded that the education adviser and chief adviser of the current interim government remove the headmaster immediately and bring back the fair environment of education in the school. The teachers and students have warned to go on a strict agitation if the demands are not met.
This correspondent went to school headmaster’s office to inquire about the complaint but found he was absent. The headmaster also could not be contacted over mobile phone.
In this regard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zahidul Islam said, “I have received complaints from teachers and students. I have also heard many complaints against the headmaster. I have informed my higher authorities about it.
Necessary action will be taken when instructions come.”
It should be noted that for the past few years, students, teachers, parents have been holding many protests and processions against the headteacher. In 2018, the president of the school's managing committee, Mirazul Islam, dismissed the headteacher and sent a letter to the various departments concerned as the allegations were proven in the investigation.
Former UNOs of Santhia Jahangir Alam and SM Jamal Ahmed wrote to the directorate several times to take disciplinary action against the headteacher. Besides, Upazila Secondary Education Officer, District Education Officer and even Deputy Commissioner also sent a letter to the directorate and the board of education demanding his punishment.
