Guardians allege decision made to save principal
The government on Wednesday dissolved the managing committee of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College after some committee members, in the absence of the chairman, Rashed Khan Menon, had removed Husne Ara Begum as the principal and appointed senior teacher Ambia Khatun to the position. The government also formed an ad hoc committee, headed by Dhaka’s deputy commissioner Mohibul Haque, to run the functions of the managing committee.
The chairman of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, Fahima Khatun, told New Age that the decision on dissolving the managing committee had been made on Wednesday evening.
‘We think that the managing committee had also been indifferent to the incident,’ she said. ‘We want that the situation in Viqarunnisa Noon School becomes normal.’
Asked about the decision on the removal of Husne Ara as the principal, she said that the ad hoc committee would make a decision in this direction.
The deputy commissioner told New Age about 8:00pm that he was yet to be informed officially of the ad hoc committee.
Many guardians of Viquarunnisa students said that the managing committee had been dissolved only to save the principal.
‘The managing committee was dissolved at a time when the committee removed Husne Ara Begum as the principal. It has been done to save the principal,’ said a guardian.
The education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, earlier in the day told reporters that the managing committee had not informed the ministry of the decision on Husne Ara’s removal and the appointment of a new principal.
‘From this, you understand that a chaotic situation prevails in Viqarunnisa.’ Nahid said that he had asked the authorities concerned to look into ‘the unstable situation in Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.’
‘The problem will be resolved by today. The situation will become normal from tomorrow,’ he said on Wednesday.
The education ministry became concerned about Viqarunnisa Noon School and College after protests by students and their guardians that continued for about a week demanding punishment of Parimal Jayadhar, a teacher of the institution’s Bashundhara campus arrested on charge of raping a student, and removal of Husne Ara as the principal for defending the accused.
Parimal abused a girl and videoed it with his mobile. He admitted to doing so in his statement given in court on Monday.
There were allegations against Husne Ara Begum that she was defending Parimal even after the girl had lodged a complaint in writing.
In the morning, some members of the managing committee decided to remove Husne Ara as the principal for the delay in taking action against Parimal and her failure to keep discipline in the school.
The managing committee were, however, divided about the decision on Husne Ara’s removal.
Some committee members said that such a decision could not be taken in the absence of the committee chair, Rashed Khan Menon.
Husne Ara told New Age that she was still the principal of the college.
‘The managing committee cannot make the decision in the absence of the chairman or the acting chairman. The decision on the removal of the principal is illegal,’ she said.
Most of the teachers of the school, however, supported the decision. ‘She is destroying the image of the reputed school,’ a teacher said.
The managing committee also decided to appoint Ambia Khatun the new principal.
In the morning, several organisations formed human chains in front of the National Press Club demanding removal of the principal. HSC students boycotted classes for the second day on Wednesday.
-With New Age input
