Primary school headmaster returns misappropriated funds amid intense guardian protest in Betagi
Betagi (Barguna) Correspondent
A headmaster of a government primary school in Betagi Upazila of Barguna was forced to refund money collected from students after facing intense protests from aggrieved guardians over allegations of financial misappropriation and illegal coaching activities.
According to local sources and guardians, grievances had been brewing against Mostafizur Rahman, Headmaster of No. 13 Gred-Lakshipura Government Primary School, over charges of overcharging for school uniforms, authoritarian behavior, and conducting illegal private tutoring during official school hours in violation of government regulations.
The controversy escalated when parents confronted the headmaster during an inquiry conducted by an investigation committee formed by the Upazila Education Office. Confronted by protesting parents, Mostafizur Rahman acknowledged his irregularities and subsequently refunded the misappropriated funds as directed by the probe body.
According to the allegations, the headmaster collected an extra Tk 300 to Tk 350 per male student and Tk 250 to Tk 300 per female student under the guise of tailoring uniforms, allegedly embezzling a total of Tk 36,000 from 120 students.
Furthermore, he was accused of charging Fifth Grade students Tk 1,000 each for private coaching conducted during regular school hours (from 9:00 am to 11:30 am) in 2025. When questioned about the unauthorized coaching, he reportedly attempted to cover it up by misrepresenting the sessions on Facebook as "remedial classes."
Upazila Education Office sources confirmed that a three-member investigation committee, headed by Assistant Upazila Education Officer Md. Monir Hossain, instructed the headmaster to return the funds following its field inquiry.
Defending himself, Headmaster Md. Mostafizur Rahman claimed the allegations were part of a false smear campaign, stating that he returned the money solely upon the investigation committee's request to appease the guardians.
Upazila Primary Education Officer Md. Nizam Uddin stated that the headmaster has already returned the disputed funds, reaffirming that there is no scope for corruption or financial irregularities within government primary schools.
