An upazila secondary education officer (USEO) has been sent back to Bangladesh at least three days ahead of a 10-day training programme at a university in Thailand on charge of harassing a female
official of the university.
Bhola sadar upazila secondary education officer, M Ziad Hasan, was a member of a 30-member team led by an education ministry deputy secretary.
On October 9, the authorities concerned sent back Ziad after receiving a written complaint of the host university. Authorities of the Mahanakorn University of Technology, Thailand was tasked with management of the study tour.
The Thai university authority accused Ziad of indecent behavior and harassing its female official Nattiya M, according to the complaint. The dainishiksha.com has obtained a copy of the complaint.
Denying the allegation, Ziad told dainikshiksha.com on Wednesday that he returned to Bangladesh shortening the tour after being informed that his mother fell sick.
Project director of the World Bank-financed Secondary Education Quality Access and Enhancement Project (SEQAEP), Md Mahmud-Ul-Huq on October 23 forwarded a complaint letter to director general of the directorate of secondary and higher education for next course of action against the alleged USEO Ziad.
With a few vacant posts, there are more than 450 upazila secondary education officer in the country. They play key role in appointing teachers and employees at school, college and madrasas and enlisting the private institutions in MPO (monthly pay order) although they were initially recruited for disbursement of the female stipend project only.
It has been alleged that the education officers exercise unlawful power and earn money out of their duty assigned by the government causing deterioration of the quality of the secondary education system.
