Two teachers of Chattogram's Forestry Science and Technology Institute have been extorting students for years by threatening them with poor scores in exams, said students providing this paper with a video clip as evidence.  

"You have two options. Either you can pay the money I asked for or lose a year. I think losing a year would cost you much more than the money I want," one of the teachers, Amal Krisno Mandal, was seen saying in the clip.

"I am not an epitome of kindness. If you want to get benefits from me, you will have to pay for it," he continued. 

This conversation between a teacher and a couple of students of Chattogram's FSTI is in the clip obtained by The Daily Star a week ago. 

In the video, recorded a year ago, Amal was also heard saying, "This exam paper belongs to Bangladesh Technical Education Board. Being a teacher, I am doing this illegal thing for you. Who will do you such favours?" 

Just before the video was taken, Amal had allowed the students access to their exam scripts in his room, claimed the students who recorded the footage.  

At least five current and former students of FSTI, the country's only institution offering a four-year diploma on forest science and technology, alleged that two teachers of the institute -- Amal Krisno Mandal and Delwar Hossain -- extort money from students threatening them with low marks and failures in exams. 

Talking to The Daily Star on condition of anonymity, they alleged that at the end of every semester, each student has to pay Tk 5,000 to each of the duo to pass the exam. 

The money is taken in the name of tuition fees, the students said, adding that the admission fee for FSTI is only Tk 2,000. 

Students also accused the duo of not taking regular classes or teaching properly in class, leaking question papers, allowing students to take exam scripts home and writing the answers at home. 

POWER AND MONEY

To obtain a FSTI diploma, a student has to complete 164 credits, which carries a total of 2,530 marks. Of the total, 1,030 marks are allocated for theory and 1,500 for practical exercises comprising field trips, class tests, quizzes and attendance.  

The practical marks, awarded by the institute's teachers, depend on how much each student pays Amal and Delwar before each semester final result, alleged the students.   

The teachers, as chosen by the director of the institute, also check the exam scripts of the first three semesters. 

From the fourth semester, scripts are sent to the Technical Education Board, sources informed, adding that FSTI teachers also help the Board prepare questions.   

According to students and sources at the FSTI, Amal and Delwar control everything in the institute even though it has a director and a third teacher.   

Contacted, Amal did not deny the allegations. He instead asked this correspondent to verify the facts before writing a report. "If you get evidence based on the footage, you can take action," he said. 

Meanwhile, there are also allegations that Delwar obstructed installation of CCTV cameras in exam halls, when the institute obtained funds to set up the apparatus across the campus. 

When contacted, Delwar denied all allegations, calling them false and fictitious. 

Director of FSTI Mohammad Ali, who joined the institute eight months ago, maintained that these are old allegations that have been resolved. The two teachers had a problem with the previous director but everything is alright now, he added.  

He claimed that a group among the students are trying to create tension.  

Since last May, a number of students of FSTI have written three letters to high-ups of the Forest Department, informing it of the alleged irregularities.  

Following the last letter sent in December, a five-member committee – including FSTI Director Mohammad Ali -- was formed to review the lessons imparted by the institute's teachers on January 26 by the office of Chief Conservator of Forest. 

Gobinda Roy, deputy chief conservator of forest (education and training wing) and head of the committee, told The Daily Star that they have received a number of complaints, when asked about the allegations against the two teachers. 

He said, "We are investigating these and departmental action will be taken against those found guilty." 

Gobinda, who joined the education and training wing in October, said that he has been bringing in external examiners and guest lecturers to improve the quality of education at the institute.  

Mohammad Ali could not answer why the committee was required, even though he is a member. He instead asked this correspondent to meet him at his office. 

FSTI started its journey in 1994 at Chattogram's Nasirabad under the Forest Resources Management Project with 10 teachers and a yearly intake of 50 students.  

When the project ended in 2001, funds dried up and the teachers' number was reduced to three.  

The current intake per batch is about 30 and the institute has around 130 students. 

The forest department recruits their foresters only from FSTI diploma-holders, who have to ace a competitive job exam to join the department at the field level. 

Currently, the forest department needs 10,000 foresters to maintain the vast swathes of forest across the country.