Several students have alleged that No-92 Tupuria Govt Primary School in Gopalganj took Tk100 from each student for free textbooks on Sunday.
Several guardians also claimed that the school had been charging money for the past five years.
According to Kotalipara Upazila Primary Education Office, there are 250 students from pre-primary to fifth grade in that school. All books are provided for free distribution among the students. These books were distributed among the students in the book distribution festival on Sunday.
Numerous students alleged that Newton Mallik, headmaster of the school, told them that they would not get any books if they did not pay.
Guardians of different students said that they had been paying to get the books for the past five years, otherwise the school would not give them the books.
We are demanding to the relevant senior officials to investigate the matter and take necessary measures, they added.
Denying the allegation, the headmaster of the school, Newton Mallik, said: “It is not true that books will not be given if money is not paid. We have given books to many students who cannot pay. However, as per the decision of the school management board, we have collected Tk100 from the students during the distribution of books for the annual sports competition. We do this every year.”
Habibur Rahman Habi, president of the board of directors of that school admitted to taking money and said that money was taken from the students for the annual sports competition.
“Many students do not pay during the annual competition. For this we collect money from the students during the distribution of these books. For the past five years we have been collecting money for annual sports competitions in this way,” he added.
In this regard, Kotalipara Upazila Education officer Amjad Hossain said: “It has been instructed to distribute textbooks free of charge. There is no provision for collection of money in the name of book distribution. If money has been taken in this way, an on-site investigation will be conducted. If proven, action will be taken against the accused as per rules.”