The authorities have launched a clean-up campaign at madrasas to stamp out corruption as allegations against errant principals and teachers continue to pile up.
Over the past few months, the monthly payment order (MPO) for hundreds of madrasa teachers, including principals, has been suspended and permanently terminated, among other measures taken to combat irregularities.
Yet, corruption continues unabated, and many teachers, including principals, remain absent day after day. Moreover, some are found engaged in inappropriate activities on social media platforms like Facebook.
The Directorate of Madrasa Education (DME) issued a notice on July 18 addressing all madrasas across the country to maintain discipline. Earlier, the authorities appointed 22 officers to inspect the madrasas on July 31.
Recruitment and MPO fraud
According to DME sources, despite measures against phony appointments and MPO fraudulence, they had to issue notices against numerous teachers based on various complaints.
A notice was issued on July 11 to the principal of Kotakole Baytul Falah Dakhil Madrasa in Lohagara Upazila of Narail for allegations of enlisting an assistant moulvi under the MPO scheme.
A similar notice was served to cease the MPO of a super at Mohammadia Girls Dakhil Madrasa in Hathazari upazila of Chittagong, following the same allegations.
Notices were also sent to the principals of 11 madrasas on August 6 for producing false documents, promoting senior teachers and assistant professors by deceptive means, and facilitating them financially.
On August 16, the DME sought employment papers from Toke Nagar Darul Hadis Alim Madrasah in Kapasia Upazila of Gazipur, following allegations of corruption during the recruitment process.
The principal of Sonamukhi Senior Fazil Madrasa in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj received a notice to revoke his MPO status following allegations of appointing two teachers through fraudulent examination results.
Furthermore, 59 madrasa teachers failed to attend subject-based training without any given reason, prompting the directorate to issue show-cause notices on August 21.
The directorate further reported that principals, supers, assistant supers, assistant maulvis, and assistant teachers from 22 madrasas across the country were fraudulently enrolled at higher MPO grades by concealing their lack of qualifications.
Following this disclosure, their salaries were suspended, and they were instructed to return the extra money received to the government treasury.
Arranging child marriage
The principal of Huliarpur Jamea Quasemia Kamil Madrasa in Jagannathpur Upazila of Sunamganj, Moinul Islam Parvez, faced a notice on June 25 over allegations of facilitating a child marriage.
The DME notice said both parties were misled with various information, forging age in the marriage contract to facilitate underage marriage.
The principal is also accused of acting as a mediator in marriages and divorces by deceiving the groom and bride parties.
Grouping cultures
There were allegations that teachers at the Islamia Alim Madrasa in Ramu Upazila of Cox’s Bazar were unable to withdraw their due salaries due to a prevailing "grouping" culture among the madrasa staff.
To facilitate the release of their salaries, the DME had to instruct the madrasa's governing body's chairman and the principal to appear before it with the necessary documents and explain their stance.
Financial misconduct and bribery
A written complaint was filed with the directorate from the office of the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer regarding financial misconduct and bribery at the Chapghat Rohimpur Sunni Dakhil in the Zakiganj Upazila of Sylhet.
Following the complaint, the madrasa's MPO was suspended, and inquiries were initiated to ascertain if the MPO would be permanently revoked.
Satkhira Polytechnic Institute's principal, Abdul Kuddus Sardar, was demoted to vice principal as per an order authorized by Technical and Madrasa Education Division Secretary Kamal Hossain for his involvement in financial corruption.
Anti-state activities on social media
Apart from corruption, there were reports of several madrasa teachers engaging in anti-state and misogynistic activities through social media while being consistently absent at the workplace.
Therefore, the directorate had to issue a notice on July 18 in this regard.
The notice said that many teachers at the Dakhil, Alim, Fazil, and Kamil madrasa levels are not regularly teaching in their classrooms and are residing outside their workplace.
Furthermore, these teachers have been sharing inappropriate, unethical, indecent, and provocative statements against the administration's decisions on their personal Facebook walls and various groups in the name of protest.
Official statement
When asked, DME Deputy Director (Administration) Zakir Hossain said a clean-up drive is being conducted to ensure that madrasa principals and teachers are not involved in corruption.
"Actions were taken to prevent madrasa teachers from engaging in recruitment corruption, MPO-related misconduct, and skipping classes," he said.
"Arrangements for immediate inspections have been made, with 22 officials overseeing the duties," he added.
