Pry teachers' assoc leader faces 'graft' allegation
Salongram Purbopara Registered Primary School headmaster Md Aminur Rahman in Jaldhaka upazila has brought an allegation of bribery against the Bangladesh Non-government Primary Teachers' Association secretary general Alhaj Akkas Ali.
The headmaster brought the allegation against the teachers' association executive through a written complaint lodged to the Anti corruption Commission (ACC) chairman recently.
In the complaint, he said Akkas Ali, also a member of the Non-government Primary School Teachers Welfare Trust, took bribe from the headmasters of seven primary schools promising nationalisation of their schools and bringing those under monthly payment order (MPO).
The schools are Salongram Purbo Registered Primary School, Cherenga No 1 Jhaspara LP Primary School, Chaoradangi Purbo Para Primary School, Purbo Chiraviza Golna Bahadurpara Primary School, Salongram Bottala Babupara Primary School, Sholmani Charvarat Primary School and Paschim Golmunda Madhyapara Primary School.
The complainant said Akkas Ali had told them in March 2005 that the 4-party Alliance government would nationalise a few primary schools by December same year. He also said to the headmasters of the schools to give him Tk 1 lakh each for the purpose. He also said that he had a talk with the then prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia to this effect.
But the headmasters expressed their inability to meet up the demand. At this stage, Akkas Ali asked them to pay at least half or two-third of the amount. He suggested to pay him the rest amount after nationalisation of the schools.
The complainant further said that he promised to repay the entire amount to the headmasters on his failure to do the job.
Later, headmasters of the schools arranged Tk 3 lakh and 72,800 and handed over the amount to Akkas Ali at Room No 71 of a residential hotel at 84, Nawabpur Road in Dhaka. At one stage, the teachers wanted to know from him about progress in his work. In reply, Akkas scolded them and asked to wait till the last day of the alliance government rule. Ultimately, the alliance government departed. At this stage, he promised them to return the money on December 30 last year. When the teachers met him as per schedule, he rebuked them and even slapped them and refused to return the money.
Later, a copy of the complaint was sent to the secretary of Primary and Mass Education Ministry. The ministry asked the Compulsoy Primary Education Implementation unit to investigate the matter.
Accordingly, letters signed by an official, Dr Zahiruddin Khan, were sent to headmasters of the schools to come to his office at Shikkha Bhaban in Dhaka with documents for an investigation.
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