Officials and employees of the Directorate of Primary Education continued their protest for the tenth day, demanding the removal of the Director General (DG) Abdus Samad, accusing him of misconduct and controversial actions. Around 400-500 staff gathered in front of the Directorate, calling for his immediate removal, warning of stricter actions if their demands were not met.
Protesters claim that Abdus Samad lacks knowledge of primary education and has become a burden on the department. They urged the government to replace him with an experienced and education-friendly officer to lead the primary education sector.
The protests intensified after Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, the advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, visited the Directorate on August 20. During a meeting, the DG was accused of arranging discussions in secret, allowing only six selected persons to speak after reviewing their speeches in advance.
Abdus Samad, appointed as DG three months ago on the recommendation of controversial former MP Mainul Hussain Khan Nikhil, is accused of keeping long-serving staff in key positions, many of whom are seen as loyal to the previous administration. Protesters also alleged that the DG is trying to secure his position by aligning with corrupt and greedy officials.
Chief Coordinator Abdur Rezzak Siddiqui announced new protest programs if Abdus Samad is not removed by September 5. From September 8, officials plan to hold one-hour strikes, wear black badges, and display banners at all field-level offices, including the Directorate of Primary Education, to demand the DG’s removal.
