Primary education officials express anger over promotions, appointments
Under the school feeding project, 150 upazilas were divided into 20 packages and tenders were invited, but work orders were awarded to only eight organisations
ATT Desk Report 
Officials and employees of the Directorate of Primary Education observed a black badge protest during office hours on Sunday (5 April) as part of their announced programme. According to those involved, the protest was held due to the lack of visible progress on a range of long-standing demands.
At a programme held at the Directorate’s Mirpur-2 office, Education Officer Rafiqul Islam Rumi, Education Officer Md Abdus Salam and Deputy Director Md Kamaruzzaman addressed the gathering.
They said frustration was mounting at the field level due to the failure to ensure administrative balance, fair promotion and transparency in the primary education sector.
They alleged that under the government primary school feeding project, 150 upazilas were divided into 20 packages and tenders were invited, but work orders were awarded to only eight organisations, while the remaining 12 packages were retendered.
They further claimed that most of the work had gone to NGOs and groups that had benefited during the previous government’s tenure. Allegations were also raised that contractors with opposing political views were not awarded work.
Officials also questioned the recent recruitment of around 15,000 assistant teachers. According to them, whereas earlier recruitment exams were conducted using multiple region-based question papers, this time a single question paper was used nationwide, creating scope for question leaks and misuse of technology. They also described the rule requiring 50 per cent marks in the viva voce as one that “creates opportunities for corruption”.
Speakers further claimed that around 400 candidates had been sent to jail over allegations of irregularities in the written examination, and said more information could emerge if the matter was properly investigated. Questions were also raised over the formation of multiple boards to complete viva examinations quickly. They additionally alleged that bribes ranging from Tk 3 crore to Tk 5 crore had been exchanged per package in the school feeding project.
They also accused authorities of organising multiple workshops in violation of rules in order to receive honorariums and travel allowances.
They said that over the past 15 years, no initiative had been taken by the current Director General to address cases of officials who had faced unjust punishment or punitive postings, which they described as deeply regrettable.
Earlier, on 29 March, a memorandum containing a five-point demand — including implementation of a primary education cadre — was submitted to the State Minister for Primary and Mass Education. The demands include appointing field-level officials to director-level posts, forming a separate primary education cadre, rehabilitating officials subjected to administrative harassment, upgrading ranks, and filling vacant posts through prompt promotions.
As per the announced programme, a one-hour work stoppage will be observed on Monday (6 April). If their demands are not met, a protest meeting will be held on Tuesday (7 April), when further programmes will be announced, they said. However, no immediate response was available from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education or the relevant authorities regarding the allegations.
