Volley of allegations against Gopalganj madrasa principal

Locals and guardians in Gopalganj town have raised a number of allegations of corruption and signature forgery against the principal of Salehia Kamil Madrasa. They distributed leaflets in the town Thursday alleging that Principal Md Jalal Uddin had misappropriated 1,200kg rice and 125kg lentils from the donation of the madrasa’s orphanage and lillah (free accommodation and food) boarding. They also alleged that the principal had embezzled Tk19,200 as he showed higher rate for procurement of low-quality chairs. Moreover, Jalal misappropriated donations and funds of the madrasa by forging signature of the management committee members, and gobbled money by renting shops of the madrasa market. Jalal has refuted the accusations as baseless. “This is conspiracy against me. Some vested interests are raised the allegations to harass me,” he claimed. Because of his involvement in irregularities and corruption, Jalal had been removed from his previous workplaces in Madaripur and Chittagong, the guardians alleged. Wishing anonymity, a renter of the madrasa market told the Dhaka Tribune that the principal had forcefully realised additional amount from the shopkeepers. “He threatened to evict us if we did not pay what he demanded,” the shopkeeper claims.