18 expelled for skipping school picnic

Eighteen students of Jamirhaat High School in Parbatipur upazila were expelled and issued transfer certificates yesterday for taking part in a family picnic instead of the one organised by the school.

Guardians of some of the expelled students said the school, which has 540 students, hosted the yearly picnic at Tajhaat Jamidar Bari in Rangpur on Monday. Each of the participants paid Tk 400 to the school for joining the event.

Moslem Uddin, father of an expelled student, said he could not arrange the money to register his son's name for the picnic.

Another guardian said they joined a family picnic on Tuesday.

Yesterday, six of the 18 expelled students went to the school in Bashupara village, but returned home after receiving copies of the TC.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Head Teacher Jahangir Alam said the 18 students were expelled for "violating school discipline" by taking part in another picnic on Tuesday.

He claimed that the decision was made in a meeting of the school managing committee yesterday. Local lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman, president of the committee, was not present.

Some guardians said they filed a complaint with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahnaj Mithun Munni over the expulsions.

The UNO, however, said she was yet to receive any complaint in this regard.