Staff Reporter, Ullapara:

Allegation of huge corruption and anomalies including misappropriation of the government money and destroying the state owned assets in illegal means has been intensified against Abdul Mazid, Headmaster of Momena Ali Science School in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district.

Due to his massive corruption and irregularities, agitation has been created among the students and guardians in the area. They urged the authorities concerned to ensure exemplary punishment against the corrupt school teacher through a fair investigation so that no more educational institutions in the country turns like the corruption hub.

Locals as well as students and guardians said, “We know that, a teacher is the main craftsman of building human beings. But, the headmaster Abdul Mazid self has made the educational institution as a den of corruption instead of providing good education to the students. Now, question has been raised that, what will the students learn from such as teacher in future?

It is alleged that, the headmaster embezzled crores of taka by secretly removing and selling furniture, electrical fittings, doors and windows, fans, fire equipments and other valuable goods of a modern one-storey building built with the government funds. As a result, the building of the institution has practically become unusable even before its inauguration.

It is also alleged that, Tk 5 lakh allocated for the construction of the boundary wall of the same institution has also been completely embezzled.

Morshedul Haque Leon, Clerk of the school admitted that, the headmaster Abdul Mazid has taken about Tk 30 lakh from the school fund without any legal process or bill-voucher. Besides, he has withdrawn and misappropriated about Tk 70 lakh from the account of school fund in five years during suspension period.

There is further allegation that, he has realized Tk 30,000 to Tk 50,000 from each of the students, while providing admission to the children of government officers and employees or for additional shift. But, there are no institutional files of those expenditures, which have created cloud over his professional honesty.

According to the reliable sources, the appointment of headmaster Abdul Mazid was also against the MPO policy. He was appointed by the local school committee without the approval of the board or presence of the government representatives, sources alleged.

The new one-storey building, built at a cost of about Tk 1 crore, was supposed to start teaching from January 2025. But, it did not see the face of implementation so far.

Ruhul Amin, an engineer at the Department of Education Engineering in Ullapara said that, “During my regular supervision, I found that 36 pairs of benches, chairs, tables, electric fans, lights, fire equipment, doors, windows and even washroom fittings in the building had gone vanished, where the financial loss estimated about Tk 20 lakh.”

Locals informed that, the furniture had removed from the building with a truck during Maghrib prayer to avert the public attention.

While asked by former General Secretary of Sadar Union BNP Anwar Hossain Rana and Zakir Hossain of Jhikra Mohalla, Tanvir Mithun, Computer Operator of the school informed that, on the instructions of the headmaster, these furniture and goods were removed to elsewhere for repairing.

When Rana and Zakir asked the headmaster Abdul Mazid about the matter, he also replied same. But it was surprising matter that the goods did not return to the institution next time.

Engineer Ruhul Amin of the Education Engineering Department said that, “If there is any defect or fault in the furniture, it will see the concerned department to resolve the problem. The concerned department will make an understanding with the concerned contractor. But, there is no chance of removing the goods by the headmaster anyway.”

When this correspondent tried to contact with the headmaster on Wednesday for his comment in this regard, he did not response even after making several calls.

Ullapara Upazila Secondary Education Officer Abdul Quader said that, “The incidents happened regarding the new campus and building of Momena Ali Science School are very painful and against the law. I will report it to the Education Department and take effective action as soon as possible after discussing with the UNO.”

The incumbent President of the school management committee and Upazila Fisheries Officer Ataur Rahman said, “I don’t know anything about these irregularities. However, action would be taken after investigating into the allegations.”