The school building was built a few days ago. The five-room two-storied building is gleaming. A spectrum of colors throughout the building. However, the allocation of two lakh rupees for the renovation of this school! Head teachers and management board people pocketed all the money by buying nominal items.
This complaint is about Tilakpara Government Primary School in Mithapukur Upazila of Rangpur. Not only this institution, most of the 79 schools allocated in the upazila have been accused of misappropriation of renovation money. On August 3 and 4, this information was obtained by visiting the ground.
There are 275 government primary schools in Mithapukur. Of these, 55 are newly nationalized. In 2021-22 fiscal year, 79 schools were allocated for renovation. Each school is allocated two lakh Taka.
In a letter signed by Dilip Kumar Vanik, director of the Directorate of Primary Education, it is said that the allocated money should be used to repair the damaged plaster of the building, washblocks and toilets, windows and doors, benches, chairs, collapsible gates, roof welding, sewage system. It has been asked to complete the renovation work by June 30 and send a progress report by e-mail. But despite the passage of time, many institutions have not spent the allocated money till now.
Tilakpara Government Primary School Headmaster Musfiqur Rahman claims, file cabinet, bookshelf, bench, mat, table, lecture stand, chilekotha door, second floor grill have been purchased. There was no irregularity in the work.
Gopalpur Hamidia Government Primary School has not done any work with the allotted money. But the progress report was supposed to be given to the concerned department on June 30. On August 3, it was seen that brickwork was being done in a small part in front of the balcony. All together from one to one hundred and fifty brick works. According to Farida Yasmin, head teacher, grill will be provided on the brickwork. Next will be the color work. When asked why he did not work at the appointed time, he said that it was not time due to various reasons.
In Talimganj Government Primary School, two one-storied buildings were seen shining. Draw various charming pictures on colors. There is no need to renovate the interior. A small Martyr’s Minar was seen at the entrance. According to the locals, the construction cost of the Shaheed Minar is very high, 15 thousand taka. That is two lakh taka’s allocated for repair. Headmaster Sultan Ahmad said on mobile phone that he went home before the holiday due to personal reasons. He asked, have you seen the works? A lot of work has been done.
Shikarpur Government Primary School also did not find any sample of work. Cows are grazing across the field. Like a cow pasture. There is no boundary wall. Teaching is going on with only one teacher. Assistant teacher Mosharraf Hossain’s daughter Jannati Akter is taking proxy classes instead of her father. Principal teacher Abdur Rauf Mia claimed that the water roof has been done, tiles have been installed in the washroom.
Manjushree Government Primary School in Pagla has not seen any visible renovation work with the allotted money. The school authorities have worked diligently. Head teacher Abeda Anjum said, ‘There is no time to give so many calculations. Moreover, I was in training during the allocation work. So, I can’t even say.’
Kishamat Harpara Government Primary School did not even do a single rupee of work in the stipulated time. However, after June 30, attempts are being made to embezzle the allocation by buying nominal items. Head teacher Abul Kashem commented, now grill, collapsible gate installation is going on. The mason is late for work.
Rupsi Adarsh Government Primary School also did not do any work. The school authorities did not withdraw the money either. When asked, the head teacher Anwara Begum refused to speak. The situation is the same in Kishamat Rasulpur Government School. During the last UP elections, the authorities constructed a toilet in the school with the other allocation money. It costs like 60 thousand taka. That expenditure is alleged to be reflected in the current allocation. Head teacher Rina Roy denied the allegations.
Upazila Education Officer Anwarul Islam said that the renovation work has been delayed due to various reasons. There is no opportunity to embezzle the allocation. All educational institutions will be visited soon. Action will be taken if there is any irregularity.
