Government College Principal’s Directive to Attend Chhatra Dal Event!

Local Correspondent

A controversy has arisen at Bogura’s prestigious Government Azizul Haque College over an event organized by Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP. The college principal himself issued a signed notice instructing students and concerned individuals to attend the political event.

The call for participation in a political program from a government institution sparked widespread criticism on social media and within the educational community.

It has been learned that a notice signed by Principal Professor Shaukat Alam Mir was published on the college’s official website yesterday. It stated that the reception ceremony of the newly formed Chhatra Dal committee of the college branch would be held on July 2 at 11 AM at the college’s open stage, and all students and concerned individuals were invited to attend.

As soon as the notice was published, various reactions emerged among students and political analysts. Questions were raised in light of the Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1979—can a government college principal instruct attendance at a political student organization’s event? According to Rule 25(1), no government employee can be a member of a political party, and under Rule 25(3), they cannot exert influence in any political activities either.

Reacting to the matter, Niyati Sarkar, member secretary of the Socialist Student Front’s college unit, said, “A government principal has engaged in politically biased behavior. This is condemnable and unacceptable for an administrator.”

Joy Bhowmik, convener of the Bangladesh Students’ Union’s college unit, said, “The head of an educational institution should remain neutral. But by issuing a notice on official letterhead, he has taken a stance in favor of one party, which is undesirable.”

On the other hand, Atikul Islam Biplob, convener of the college unit of Chhatra Dal, explained the matter, saying, “We had verbally invited everyone. But we did not request the principal to issue a notice on college letterhead himself.”

When asked for a reaction, Principal Professor Shaukat Alam Mir said, “The notice was issued unintentionally. I have since withdrawn it.”

However, education analysts say such open political activities in government institutions raise questions about the neutrality and ethics of the administration.

Those concerned speculate that demands for an investigation into the matter may arise from the college’s governing body or the Ministry of Education.