4 absconding pro-Jamaat teachers still get salary

Four absconding madrasa teachers, also local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, have been receiving montly salary bills signed by presidents of the institutions' governing bodies loyal to the ruling Awami League despite an order issued by the district education officer (DEO) to hold up their salary.

They are Vice Principal of Palashbari Senior Fazil Madrasa Abdul Majid Akanda, ameer of Palashbari upazila unit of Jamaat, head of the institution's priamry section Mozammel Huq, a member of the unit, principal of Merrirhat Senior Fazil Madrasa AKM Nazrul Islam, organising secretary of the district unit of Jamaat, Assistant Professor of the madrasa Belaluddin Sarkar, a member of the district unit of the party.

On February 2, DEO Kutubuddin issued an order to hold up the salary of the four people as they were absconding accused in several cases including those for terrorism and violence. 

But member of the upazila unit of AL Jahangir Alam, also president of Palashbari Senior Fazil Madrasa's governing body, and organising secretary of the unit Shahidul Islam, also president of Merrierhat  Senior Fazil Madrasa's governing body, signed the salary bills of the accused, violating the order, said the DEO. 

The four received salary bills for the month of February, said Sadrul Amin, manager of Palashbari Sonali Bank branch.

Contacted, Shahidul Islam, president of Merrirhat Senior Fazil Madrasa's governing body, said "I signed the salary bills for verifying the papers and attendance register of teachers but I am not aware about the order issued by the education officer."

"I served show cause notices to the presidents of the institutions' governing bodies in this regard," said the DEO.

The four Jamaat men accused in severa cases including for terrorism and violence were absconding for long, said Mojibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Palashbari Police Station.

Police are raiding different areas to arrest the accused, said the OC.