Princh Mondal Olif, Bagerhat Correspondent:
Students of Betkashi Secondary School in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district boycotted classes and staged a protest on Sunday, October 11, demanding the resignation of headteacher Lutfar Rahman Talukder. They accused him of irregularities and corruption in school activities, behaving disrespectfully towards teachers, collecting extra money from students, and referring to students as a “teenage gang.” The students called for an impartial investigation into the allegations and appropriate action against those found responsible.
The protest took place on the school premises on Sunday morning. Students joined a procession and held a rally after boycotting classes. They raised slogans demanding the headteacher’s resignation, a fair investigation into the allegations, and measures to restore a normal and student-friendly learning environment.
The protesting students alleged that irregularities had occurred in different school activities and in the collection of money. They also expressed anger over the alleged remark describing students as a “teenage gang.” In addition to their other demands, they called for an audit of the school’s income and expenditure, a review of the recruitment process, and an investigation into the fees collected for filling out forms for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.
Acting headteacher Md Selim Hossain said students had boycotted classes and held a procession and rally on Sunday as part of their five-point demand, which included the headteacher’s resignation. He said the students had staged several protests before.
According to Selim Hossain, the movement began on October 1 following allegations that security guard Emran Hossain had humiliated mathematics teacher MS Ali. The students reportedly consider the security guard a supporter of the headteacher.
School sources said students first launched their movement on October 1, demanding the headteacher’s resignation. At that time, Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md Shahidul Islam visited the school and sent the headteacher and the security guard on compulsory leave. He also assured the students that the allegations against them would be investigated and necessary action would be taken.
The students later called off their movement on certain conditions. However, alleging that no effective action had been taken despite the assurances, they resumed their protest.
Responding to the allegations and the students’ movement, headteacher Lutfar Rahman Talukder said, “I was not at the school on the day the trouble occurred. I do not even know why the students are protesting. However, I believe people motivated by family enmity are instigating these issues as part of a conspiracy.”
Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md Shahidul Islam said a three-member investigation committee had already been formed, headed by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Aktaruzzaman. He said the committee would examine the incident and submit its report soon.
The students are awaiting the outcome of the investigation and have called for an impartial inquiry into all the allegations. They also demanded that appropriate action be taken in accordance with the rules if the allegations are established.
However, the allegations raised by the students could not be independently verified immediately. Further details are expected to emerge after the investigation committee submits its report.
News Published By:
Bangladesh Diary
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