Md. Mozammel Haque, the headteacher of Tigerpass Multipurpose High School in Chattogram, faced harassment while attempting to resume duty with a letter from the Education Board. According to him, when he arrived at the school on Sunday afternoon, he was forcibly removed from the premises.

A video recorded by a bystander shows a heated argument inside one of the school rooms between the managing committee chairman Harun Or Rashid, Haque, and several others. At one point, several individuals pushed Haque from behind, eventually escorting him out of the school.

Haque had served as headteacher since 2011, and his wife, Amena Begum, was the school’s senior assistant teacher. The school’s governing committee claims both resigned on August 14, 2024. Haque, however, denies resigning and says he was forced out. Acting on a letter from the Education Board’s Appeal and Arbitration Committee, he had gone to resume his position, only to face physical harassment.

On the other hand, members of the school’s managing committee accuse Haque of corruption and abuse of authority. They allege that he illegally acquired school land under his wife’s name for fish farming, allocated teachers’ housing to a non-existent woman, collected money from SSC students for certificates, and misappropriated school funds.

According to the Education Board, a report investigating 23 allegations against Haque was submitted on April 23, 2025, by the then Senior Assistant Commissioner of the district administration, Rakibul Islam. The report found the allegations largely credible and recommended a financial audit to investigate embezzlement in detail.

Harun Or Rashid, chairman of the governing committee, stated that Haque and his wife allegedly resigned voluntarily on August 14, 2024. He said that the investigation and subsequent audit revealed Haque had embezzled over one crore taka. Despite the findings, no action was taken by the ministry or the board. When Haque came to resume duty with local supporters, students reportedly protested his presence.

Haque said, “Those who harassed me were once students of the school. I went with the board’s letter, fully expecting resistance, but I was not prepared for physical assault. I will report the matter to the board and visit the police for security. No outsiders were with me; they were all guardians.”

The Education Board clarified that the Appeal and Arbitration Committee had issued a decision in August 2024 allowing Haque and his wife to resume duty. According to the board, under rules for recognized private secondary schools, disciplinary action against teachers and staff must be resolved within 180 working days. If unresolved, they are reinstated with pay. Based on this directive, Haque and his wife were permitted to rejoin.

A.K.M. Shamsu Uddin Azad, Secretary of the Chattogram Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, told Prothom Alo, “The 49th session of the Appeal and Arbitration Committee ruled in favor of Haque and his wife. This decision is equivalent to a court ruling and can only be challenged in the High Court. He went to resume duty following this decision, but apparently, he was unable to do so.”