Authorities at Gopalganj Government Zilla School have issued Transfer Certificates (TCs) to nine students for chanting political slogans inside a classroom. The administrative action was taken on Thursday following the findings of an investigation report, nearly a month after video footage of the incident went viral on social media.
The decision has triggered intense discussion, criticism, and widespread reactions across social and political circles throughout Gopalganj.
School Headmaster Md Ziaul Haq confirmed the development, noting that seven of the nine accused students have already collected their TCs.
According to school authorities and local sources, the incident occurred on the afternoon of 6 October, following the end of classes for the day. A group of students from various classes entered a classroom and chanted political slogans in support of the activities banned Awami League.
Their chants included “Joy Bangla, Sheikh Hasina asbe Bangladesh hasbe” (“Joy Bangla, Sheikh Hasina will return, Bangladesh will smile”) alongside several other slogans. Video recordings of the event quickly circulated on social media, becoming a major focal point of local discussion and criticism.
Considering the gravity of the matter, a three-member investigation committee was formed on the directives of the deputy commissioner, headed by Assistant Teacher Md Iqbal Hossain. Based on the findings submitted in the committee’s probe report, the school management decided to issue TCs to the nine accused students.
Seven of the nine penalised students are Md Aliraj, Shahjalal Munshi, Kazi Saidul Islam Said, Shranta Majumder, Sheikh Abdullah Tasin, Raiyan Khan and Riazul Munshi, all of Class 9.
The remaining two are Rezaul Karim of Class 8 and Sajid Kazi of Class 10.
Speaking to journalists, Headmaster Ziaul Haq Zia explained that the probe committee was constituted under administrative orders after the video surfaced online. “As the investigation substantiated the allegations, TCs were issued to the students concerned in accordance with the directives of the deputy commissioner,” he said, adding that he merely implemented the decision of the higher authorities.
Deputy Commissioner of Gopalganj and President of the School Managing Committee Md Arif-uz-Zaman confirmed that action was taken based on the probe report. “Whatever has been done, everything was carried out according to the rules,” he added.
Meanwhile, the administrative measure has sparked fresh questions and debate in Gopalganj. Local circles are actively discussing the potential impact such a major decision could have on the academic future of the students over a political slogan.
