Irregularities Alleged on First Working Day of New Government in Narail

Allegations have emerged against teachers of Hizaldanga Government Primary School in Narail Sadar Upazila for closing the school before the officially scheduled time and leaving early.

According to government regulations, the school is scheduled to close at 4:15 PM. However, on Wednesday (February 18), which marked the first working day under the new government, the school was reportedly locked before 4:00 PM, and no teachers were present on the premises.

The incident has sparked concern and frustration among local residents. Witnesses claim that around 4:00 PM, no teachers or students were seen at the school.

Local resident Litu said he had been sitting in front of the school before 4:00 PM but did not see any teachers or students, suggesting they had left earlier. Another resident, Sanjit Biswas, alleged that teachers frequently leave before the scheduled closing time and that there is little oversight.

Asit Das, another local resident, claimed that due to what he described as arbitrary behavior by teachers, student enrollment at the school has declined significantly. Many guardians, he said, are transferring their children to other nearby schools.

On condition of anonymity, one individual alleged that a senior teacher's local influence makes it difficult for residents to raise complaints about irregularities. As a result, community members feel discouraged from speaking out.

When contacted by phone, Head Teacher Swapna Sen stated that she was attending a meeting that day. She admitted that she did not return to the school afterwards and went home instead. However, she mentioned that she had spoken with a teacher from the school around 3:45 PM and defended the staff's position.

Assistant Thana Education Officer (ATEO) Md. Zakir Hossain, who is in charge of the Mulia Cluster, said he would discuss the matter with the head teacher. If the allegations are found to be true, he added, he would recommend departmental action.

It is worth noting that previous allegations had also been raised against the head teacher regarding withdrawal of maintenance funds without completing the required work. Following media scrutiny at the time, limited repair work was reportedly carried out.

Local residents have demanded appropriate disciplinary measures, including transfers if necessary. They believe that bringing in new teachers and ensuring stricter monitoring could improve the school environment and academic standards. They have urged the District Primary Education Officer to take immediate steps to address the situation.