Viqarunnisa Noon goes ad hoc

Dhaka, July 13 (bdnews24.com)?The government has dissolved the governing board of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College after the education minister promised to quickly resolve the day-long turmoil.

Dhaka education board chairperson Fahima Khatun told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that an ad hoc committee led by the Dhaka's deputy commissioner will manage it.

Hours after the purported sacking of principal Hosne Ara Begum, minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the turmoil in one of the most prestigious schools in Dhaka will be resolved by the day.

Earlier in the day, assistant professor Ambia Khatun was thrust into the job of principal in place of Hosne Ara who later told bdnews24.com the move reeked of political vendetta.

Fahima said: "The governing body has been abolished since it 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 the governing body was scrapped considering the tradition and the sentiment of the students and teachers.

"If the former committee removed Hosne Ara lawfully, then that would stand, but the decision won't be effective if that is unlawful."

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

Ambia is the senior-most teacher after Hosne Ara. The self-styled sacking is the latest in troubling developments after one of its teachers was accused of violating a student of the female-only institution.

Acting chairman of the board Dilip Roy said that several members of the body had taken the decision in the morning, but "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 in the governing body meeting on Tuesday afternoon and added that five out of eight members endorsed it.

Hosne Ara, member secretary of the Board--consisting 10 members--claimed she was still holding office since Ambia was appointed illegally.

While speaking to bdnews24.com in the afternoon she alleged that some people were taking benefits from the matter politically.

"Such a decision can't be taken in absence of the committee chief [Menon]. I've to resign for the decision to take effect.

"Moreover, I've to call a meeting. So, if anyone is seated in that post, it can't be done properly," she argued.

Hosne Ara also refuted the allegations of backing Parimal Jayadhar, charged with violating a 10th-grade student at its Bashundhara branch.

Hosne Ara and acting headmaster of the branch Lutfar Rahman were also accused in the 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.

About the expulsion of Hosne Ara, the education minister said "neither I nor my ministry" knew anything about the sudden change at the helm by the school's governing body.

Nurul Islam Nahid also said at his Secretariat office on Wednesday 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 will get back to normal from Thursday at the renowned institution," he added.

Classes in the Baily Road college unit, which had remained suspended since Saturday, resumed at noon after Ambia had taken office.

Nahid deplored the incident and expressed his concern. "The arrested teacher should be given exemplary punishment (if found guilty)."

Rokhsana told bdnews24.com that the 'expelled' principal did not listened to the demands of students, guardians and teachers.

"Rather she would threaten the teachers who demanded punishment of the perpetrator and herself spoke ill of the victim."

"She did not sit with the protesting guardians, as she wanted to hush up the matter.

"We've learnt a lot from the agitating students who had been protesting the inaction of authorities. We're ashamed," Rokhsana added.

The senior teacher, working at the Baily Road branch, said Hosne Ara had been absent since July 4, when the case was filed. "She did not take leave officially."

BOARD DIRECTIVE

The Board of Secondary and Intermediate Education Board, Dhaka directive issued on the matter said the governing board's term had ended on Aug 29 last year. "The board was dissolved for failing to hold elections in due time and taking decisions leading to the situation that has arisen," the directive said.

In a separate directive, the board appointed the Dhaka deputy commissioner as the president of the ad hoc committee. It said the deputy commissioner would appoint the parents' representative and Dhaka district education officer would appoint the teachers' representative.

bdnews24.com/mhc/pks//bd/2006h

Read the Dhaka Board order dissolving the governing board

Read the Dhaka Board order declaring the ad hoc committee

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