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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.