The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has temporarily suspended Aleya Khatun Hira, a demonstrator at Daokandi Government Degree College in Durgapur Upazila, Rajshahi, following protests by teachers over alleged misconduct and administrative irregularities.
DSHE Director Professor Asaduzzaman announced the suspension on Sunday after inspecting the college and exchanging views with teachers.
The director said he verbally notified Hira of her temporary suspension, and an official letter from DSHE will be issued on Sunday itself.
To ascertain the true details of the incident, the director spoke with college principal Dr Abdur Razzaq and demonstrator Hira, and instructed both of them to submit written reports by Sunday.
After receiving these reports, they will be sent to the Ministry of Education and the Divisional Commissioner, the director said. Additionally, after receiving the report from the Secondary Education Officer, he will personally submit a final investigation report after reviewing all aspects.
Earlier at 11:30am on Sunday, teachers and staff of the college held a human chain demanding the removal of the principal and the demonstrator.
Teachers expressed intense anger over long-standing administrative irregularities at the college and the continuous humiliation of teachers, alleging that Hira, despite being a demonstrator, insults teachers with obscene language.
According to complaining teachers, the principal allegedly threatened to stop the current month’s salary, Eid bonus and leave travel allowance of several teachers.
When a teacher protested considering the upcoming Eid and the families of about 100 poor students at the college, Hira allegedly attacked him and used humiliating language. It is alleged that she behaves in such a degrading manner with all teachers, even in the presence of the principal.
Teachers dismissed allegations of extortion by BNP or any other political party at the college as completely false and fabricated. They stated that it has been a completely non-political institution since 1972 and no student organisation exists there.
Local BNP had given a 48-hour ultimatum for the removal of the principal and the demonstrator. Before the deadline expired, at the 24th hour, the demonstrator was temporarily suspended.
On Saturday afternoon, local BNP had issued the ultimatum at a press conference organised at a restaurant in the city’s Saheb Bazar Zero Point area.
