<i>He seldom takes class but draws salary regularly</i>

10 May 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

A union parishad chairman in Saidpur upazila is drawing his salary and other allowances as a teacher in a madrasa although he has seldom taught students there during the last seven years. Azmal Hossen, an assistant teacher of Hazipara Dakhil Madrasa, was elected chairman of Khata Modhupur union parishad under Saidpur upazila in 2002. Since then he has seldom taught students in the madrasa situated in the same area as he is too busy with his union parishad activities. But his attendance is shown as regular in the madrasa papers and he has continued drawing his salary and other government allowances for the last seven years. As he draws over Tk 5,000 as his basic salary and other allowances, he has drawn a good amount from the government fund without rendering any service as a teacher. At the same time he is also receiving government honorarium as a UP chairman. Superintendent of the madrasa Samrat Khan admitted that assistant teacher Azmal Hossen seldom takes classes in his institution after becoming the UP chairman. "I had verbally informed the Nilphamari district education officer of the matter," he added. On condition of anonymity, a number of students, teachers and guardians of the madrasa said the assistant teacher does not take any class. They, however, are unwilling to make any written complaint as he is 'very influential'. Saidpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sabina Alam told newsman that the chairman showed her a letter signed by the then senior assistant secretary of local government ministry in this regard. The letter mentioned that there is no bar to getting government facilities from any educational institution if a local body leader is serving there as a teacher, the UNO said. “So I could not take any action against him,” she said. Saidpur Upazila Education Officer Selina Begum said the matter of the Khata Modhupur UP chairman's serving as a teacher in Hazipara Dakhil Madrasa was not known to her. "A teacher, even if he is an UP chairman, must attend his educational institution and teach the students regularly. Otherwise, it is a violation of departmental rule," she said. Contacted, Azmal Hossen said, "I never neglect my duty as a teacher in the madrasa. If there is any urgent work in the union parishad, I take official leave.”