Hosne Ara still in office: Nahid

Dhaka, July 14 (bdnews24.com)?The education minister says Hosne Ara still holds the office of principal as per the law at the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College as Ambia Khatun who 'replaced' her went to the ministry.

Students boycotted class and demonstrated on Thursday, deepening the crisis at one of the most prestigious schools in Dhaka.

No improvement was visible despite the education minister's expectations that the crisis at institution would be resolved after the dissolution of its governing board on Wednesday.

No classes were held at one of the top educational institutions of the city, until Thursday noon.

The students reportedly have split in rival groups, causing anguish among their parents.

The students were chanting slogans at the institution's Baily Road branch against and in favour of principal Hosne Ara, who was 'replaced' by assistant professor Ambia Khatun by the board on Wednesday.

Around 5,000 students gathered in the auditorium and chanted slogans blaming Hosne Ara for allegedly being reticent about taking action against Bashundhara branch teacher Parimal Jayadhar, who had been charged with violating a 10th-grade student of the same branch and who later admitted to the crime.

Another group of students assembled in front of the main gate to allege that Hosne Ara was a victim of a conspiracy.

Posters terming Ambia Khatun a 'fundamentalist' were seen on the walls of the institution.

Several guardians standing in front of the gate told bdnews24.com that the problem should be resolved soon.

Speaking to reporters at her office on Thursday noon, Ambia Khatun said the current situation should be resolved as soon as possible. "It is most urgent now to return the students to the classrooms," she said.

She said the posters terming her as a 'fundamentalist' were nothing but propaganda. "It's very unfortunate."

At one stage of the discussion, Khatun received a phone call from the education ministry.

She claimed that the ministry had summoned her, along with a list of senior teachers.

Khatun, along with four other teachers, started for the ministry around 12:15pm. The other teachers were Manju Ara Begum, Minnatul Mahal, Rokhsana Shamim and Sufia Khatun.

Earlier in the day, Khatun told bdnews24.com that she had to take the charge due to pressure from students and teachers.

Meanwhile, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid told reporters that Hosne Ara was still in office.

Speaking about the 'decision to sack' Hosne Ara, taken by some members of the governing body, the minister said, "The board expired a long time ago. A new ad hoc committee has been formed."

On Wednesday, he had said "neither I nor my ministry" knew anything about the sudden change at the top. He had directed the Dhaka education board chairman, the joint secretary of his ministry and relevant people to resolve the issue by Wednesday.

"I hope that things can get back to normal at the renowned institution from Thursday," he added.

Following the allegation against Hosne Ara of backing Parimal, the governing board 'removed' her and ordered her replacement with Ambia Khatun on Wednesday.

Hours after the 'sacking,' the government dissolved the board for its failure to tackle the situation.

Dhaka education board chairperson Fahima Khatun told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that an ad hoc committee led by the Dhaka's deputy commissioner would deal with the developments.

Khatun had said that the governing body was suspended since it had failed to tackle the present situation. "The ad hoc committee headed by Dhaka DC Mohibul Huq will oversee the institution."

Asked about the fate of the new principal, she said, "If the former committee had removed Hosne Ara lawfully, then the decision would stand," suggesting that otherwise it would not.

She said from now on, decisions by the interim committee would be final and that "whatever happened until [Tuesday] is a closed chapter."

Hosne Ara later told bdnews24.com the move reeked of political vendetta.

Acting chairman of the board Dilip Roy said that while several members of the body had taken the decision in the morning, "it can't be considered as an official decision by the committee."

The governing body chief Rashed Khan Menon MP is currently abroad.

Senior teacher Rokhsana Shamim had earlier told bdnews24.com the removal of Hosne Ara had been decided at the governing body meeting on Tuesday afternoon and added that five out of eight members had endorsed the decision.

Hosne Ara, member secretary of the 10-member board, claimed she was still holding office since Khatun had been appointed illegally.

She told bdnews24.com Wednesday afternoon some people were making political gains by trying to instigate trouble.

Hosne Ara also refuted the allegations that she had backed Parimal Jayadhar. She and the acting headmaster of the branch, Lutfar Rahman, were also accused in a case filed by the victim's father.

Jayadhar, a Bangla department teacher, has admitted to the crime in a statement given before a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate.

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