Bajitpur Correspondent: A flurry of allegations involving irregularity and misconduct has surfaced against the teachers and staff of Hilchia Government Primary School No. 31 in Bajitpur upazila of Kishoreganj.
Local residents, former and current students, and several stakeholders reported that the school staff regularly skip classes, force students to perform personal chores, mishandle tiffin distribution, engage in financial irregularities, and misuse the school premises at night.
?During a recent visit to the institution, teachers were seen inside the office room instead of conducting classes in classrooms. Some were busy using mobile phones and making video calls to family members. Head teacher Purabi Rani Saha and assistant teacher Mobarak Hossain declined to offer detailed comments when approached regarding the allegations.
One of the most severe accusations involves forcing students to do personal household work. Locals claimed that head teacher Purabi Rani Saha forces students to shop for her home, fetch breakfast from the local market, and clean classrooms and office spaces. Several former students alleged that while attending private tuition at her house, she forced them to perform personal domestic duties, including babysitting, feeding children, bathing them, and washing clothes. These practices previously led to altercations between teachers and guardians.
Serious allegations have also surfaced regarding the school janitor, Mobarak Mia. A local resident claimed that Mobarak stays at the school at night, hosting drug sessions on the second floor with local substance abusers. Locals also alleged that immoral activities involving women occur on the premises, raising serious concerns over nighttime security and the safety of public property.
Irregularities also affect the school tiffin programme. Complainants alleged that staff serve sub-standard food to students and often skip distributions for two to three days. Locals claimed that head teacher Purabi Rani Saha, assistant teacher Mobarak Hossain, and janitor Mobarak Mia embezzle and divide a portion of the allotted tiffin funds among themselves.
Questions have also arisen regarding the appointment of Purabi Rani Saha following the retirement of former head teacher Srimati Namita Saha. Two serving assistant teachers alleged that parties paid a heavy bribe to an official at the Upazila Education Office to secure the head teacher post for Purabi Rani Saha and the assistant head teacher role for Mobarak Hossain. The complainants claimed parties transacted BDT 300,000 and BDT 200,000 for these positions, though no documentary evidence has confirmed the transaction.
Efforts to contact Bajitpur Upazila Education Officer Md Sakhawat Hossain for comments were unsuccessful. Local residents demanded a thorough investigation into the overall situation, staff duties, tiffin management, fund utilization, and nighttime misuse of the school building.