The administrative activities of Gendaria High School in Old Dhaka have been disrupted for almost two weeks following infight among teachers and managing committee members.
Teachers said that Mahabubur Rahman Mishu, the president of the school’s managing committee, allegedly locked the teachers’ rooms on 22 January night after he had an altercation with the headmaster in a meeting with the committee.
At present, 41 teachers of the school are using the grade-4 employees’ room as the temporary teachers’ room. Teachers alleged that the authorities concerned were not doing enough to resolve the problem.
School insiders alleged that Mahabubur Rahman and some of his followers in the committee considered the headmaster as a voice of dissent and wanted to send him to force leave, which led to the altercation.
Wishing anonymity, a teacher of the school said, “During the managing committee election in April last year, the teachers divided into two camps to show allegiance to two panels of the committee. The headmaster’s rival panel got elected and the trouble began.”
Headmaster Mohammad Rafiqul Islam claimed that Mahabubur Rahman wanted to remove him from his position as he planned to appoint another teacher who supported him in the election.
“The president of the 11-member managing committee and four members loyal to him wanted to withdraw a fixed deposit worth Tk1.18 core made in the school’s account, which I opposed,” he added.
As the teachers’ room is locked, they cannot hold meetings, rest and sign on the attendance register, he said further.
Sathi Akhtar, an assistant teacher, alleged that she was once temporarily suspended by Mahbubul Alam.
She said, “Mahbubul Alam once suspended me. The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka issued a joining letter for me three times but Mahbubul did not accept it and reappoint me. He has taken bribes worth Tk40 lakh from two persons promising them to appoint them in my position.”
“He is threatening to kill me,” she alleged.
Mahabubur Rahman could not be contacted over the phone despite repeated calls.
On 13 August last year, the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka asked the deputy commissioner of Dhaka to investigate the allegations of various irregularities and corruption against Md Mahabubur Rahman after the headmaster complained against him.
The deputy commissioner assigned Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Niamat Ullya to investigate the matter through a letter issued on 24 September 2023.
Mohammad Niamat Ullya said he could not complete the investigation as he was busy during the 12th national election. He said he would submit the report soon.