Probe initiated against five teachers

The education ministry on Tuesday formed a probe body to investigate induction of sectarian insensitive contents in Bangla first part questions of HSC examination.

The three-member committee led by Jashore education board’s college inspector KM Rabbani was asked to submit a report within seven working days.

The ministry also identified five teachers who prepared, scrutinized and edited the controversial question paper. They are – Prashanta Kumar Pal, assistant professor of Dr Saiful Islam Degree College in Jhenaidah, Syed Tajuddin Shaon, associate professor of Narail Government Victoria College, Md Shafiqur Rahman, associate professor of Satkhira Government Mahila College, Shyamal Kumar Ghosh, assistant professor of Mirzapur United College, and Rezaul Karim, assistant professor of Bheramara Adarsha College in Kushtia.

Tapan Kumar Sarker, chairman of Dhaka Education Board on Tuesday said “Those who involved with the controversial question have been identified and the concerned Jashore Education Board will take action against them following conducting a probe.”

All the accused teachers are under Jashore Board and Jashore Board will soon serve them a show-cause notice.

After concluding the probe, Jashore board will submit a probe report to the education ministry and then the ministry will take necessary measures.

There is allegation that the question 11 on the creative section of Bangla first paper of the Dhaka Education Board’s exam was about two Hindu brothers involved in a land dispute.

The question states that the younger brother sold off a piece of land to a Muslim buyer to wreak vengeance on the elder brother. The Muslim buyer then began living on the land and slaughtered a cow there as part of his observance of Eid-ul-Azha. The question goes on to say that the younger brother, brokenhearted by the incident, then left his land and moved to India.

Following massive reaction, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said that action will be taken after identifying the involved persons over the issue.

She said, “It is unfortunate that a question like this somehow skipped the scrutiny of the moderators. We are trying to identify those involved with the incident.”