Aslam Hossain, principal of Ishwardi Girls School and College in Pabna, has been removed on various charges, including sexual harassment of female students, nepotism, money embezzlement and issuance of threats.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the ad hoc committee on school management on Sunday, Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Subir Kumar Das confirmed.
The students staged a demonstration against the principal of that educational institution on Sunday noon for immoral activities and various allegations, including sexual harassment, money embezzlement and threats. They demanded the resignation of the principal from the rally.
Around 11:00am on Sunday, the students marched from their school campus, went to the Upazila Parishad and vowed to continue protest until the resignation of the principal. At this time, teachers and many parents also joined them.
During the protest rally, the students said the accused principal Aslam Hossain has been carrying out immoral activities in the educational institution, including sexual harassment of the female students, for a long time. No one dared to say anything against him, they alleged.
The students said they do not want to see this 'characterless' teacher in their beloved educational institution. If this demand is not met, they would not leave the upazila campus.
The students made the upazila campus roar with slogans like 'We demand the resignation of Aslam Sir, dirty education will not be allowed, we want safe schools, we want Aslam Sir's punishment' from the sit-in rally. At this time, they displayed various placards and posters demanding his resignation.
The students complained that principal Aslam has been sexually abusing them for a long time. Alleging nepotism in the educational institution, they also said that even though his wife, daughter's husband and brothers-in-law are teachers, they do not take classes. His daughter's husband also behaves like a principal. The question paper is printed with very low-quality paper even though extra money is collected during the examination and other occasions.
The students told the journalists present there that when they went out for the procession in the morning, the principal stopped them. The teachers wanted to come with them but the principal also stopped them. The students said that their lives have already been threatened and that is why they demanded his resignation by Sunday.
A teacher of the school, who did not want to be named, said there are already many complaints against the principal. But due to political reasons and his angry behaviour, no one could say anything. If the students complained against him, no one outside the school would know.
The UNO of Ishwardi was in a meeting at the Pabna Deputy Commissioner's office during the protest of the female students. After hearing the news, he came to Ishwardi around 1:00pm. At that time, the students demanded the resignation of Principal Aslam Hossain and legal action against him and handed over a memorandum to him.
The UNO and School Management Committee President Subir Kumar Das said an emergency meeting of the ad hoc committee was called in view of the complaints of the students. In the meeting, it was decided to remove Principal Aslam Hussain from his post and this decision has been informed to the authorities concerned.
Principal Aslam Hossain denied the allegations and said the allegations levelled against him are false and a conspiracy. Someone has started a conspiracy against him, he said.
