A sensational incident has taken place at Paschim Sharikkhali Government Primary School in Taltoli Upazila of Barguna. The school’s headmaster Abdur Rob (Rob) Master has been accused of using the government school building as a personal residence.

Local residents, including the school’s landowner Md. Nasir Member, have alleged that the headmaster has been living in the school building for a long time. They claim that government resources are being misused in this. There is anger among local guardians and residents over the conversion of the educational institution into a private residence.

The complainants said, “The school building built with government funds is for students, not for any person’s personal residence.” They have sought the intervention of the Upazila Primary Education Officer and the concerned higher authorities to investigate the matter and take necessary action.

A person who did not want to be named said that the headmaster is permanently living in the school. When asked about this, he said, “I pay rent to the government.” However, the locals’ question is if he really pays rent, then to which government sector is the rent being deposited and who is receiving it?

In this regard, head teacher Abdur Rob Master claimed that he is staying in the school building with the permission of the office. However, when asked to show the written permission, he could not show it. To cover up the matter, he contacted the head teacher of another institution.

When he went to the office of Upazila Primary Education Officer Md. Abul Bashar to find out about this, it was seen that he was not present in the office even at 12:30 pm. Later, when he tried to contact him on his mobile phone, he cut off the call without answering. This has created dissatisfaction and anger among the common people.

According to the locals, ensuring the proper use of government resources and maintaining a healthy environment in educational institutions is one of the responsibilities of the education department. But since a proper investigation has not been done even after the complaint was raised, questions have also been raised about the role of the concerned authorities.

The locals demand that if the allegations are found to be true after a proper investigation, the headmaster should be transferred from the school, removed from the building, necessary departmental measures should be taken, and the normal environment of educational activities should be restored.

The locals expect that the educational institution built with public money should not be turned into a place for private use in any way.