Teachers seek security of lives
Teachers of Karapur Popular Secondary School in Barisal Sadar Upazila have sought security of lives in the wake of "receiving death threats" from the school managing committee chairman on Monday.
In this regard, the teachers submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner of Barisal, Dr Gazi Md Saifuzzaman, on Tuesday, stating that managing committee Chairman Anowar Hossain Polash had attempted to beat them and issued a death threat to them.
Sonali Karmaker, assistant headmaster of the school, said Polash came to school on December 29 and hurled abusive language at them, which the teachers protested. He then re-entered the school premises flanked by his followers and "armed with lethal weapons," said the teacher. Polash also attempted to assault them, which the locals foiled, said the teacher, alleging that he had then threatened to kill them.
On January 2, Polash also forcibly entered the headmaster's room breaking the lock, Sonali added. Kazi Nasrin, another school teacher, said the managing committee chairman had previously tried to embezzle the school fund. They were very afraid of the chairman, she added, in the wake of the recent incident.
According to the teachers, it all started in May last year when Polash suspended four teachers including headmaster Farid Uddin on the grounds that they were not able to deliver proper education.
Following Polash's undue interference in school affairs, teachers informed the Barisal Education Board (BEB), which cancelled the managing committee on November 20 after investigation. Challenging the decision, Polash filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC), and the HC upheld the chairmanship of Polash on December 26.
In the meantime, four suspended school teachers filed a case with the court, and the court ordered to reinstate the teachers. Following the court order, the teachers joined the school on November 23.
Since then, Polash has been trying to remove the four teachers and harassing them, said Das Gupta Ashish Kumar, president of Bangladesh Teachers' Association (BTA) of Barisal region.
Terming the allegations a "drama", Polash said the HC had upheld his chairmanship. DC Dr Saifuzzaman said he had formed a one-member committee to investigate the allegations. Actions will be taken after submission of the report, he added.
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