A Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader has been removed from all organisational positions after being accused of taking milk allocated for primary school pupils under a school feeding programme in Pirojpur’s Nesarabad.
Nadim Mahmud, joint general secretary of Swarupkathi Government College Chhatra Dal and office secretary of Baldia Union Chhatra Dal, has been relieved of his primary membership and all organisational posts on disciplinary grounds.
Khalid Hasan, office secretary of Pirojpur district Chhatra Dal, confirmed the decision on Friday, 2 October. He said the disciplinary action was taken in a decision signed the previous night by district Chhatra Dal president Salahuddin Talukder Kumar and general secretary Mahmud Hasan Shaheen.
The incident reportedly took place on 25 September at South Binna Kailantari Government Primary School, school no. 148, in Nesarabad. An event was being organised to entertain guests in connection with a boat race on the Binna Canal. While the teachers were occupied with the event, 30 packets of milk kept in the school library under the feeding programme were allegedly taken by Nadim Mahmud and several others.
The matter later came to the attention of the school authorities. Following the disclosure of the incident, Mahmud purchased 27 packets of milk and returned them to the school on 30 September. According to those involved, the remaining three packets had already been consumed.
Mahmud, however, has disputed the circumstances surrounding the incident. He said he had taken the 30 packets with two friends but claimed that they did not know the milk had been allocated specifically for schoolchildren. After learning about its intended use, he said, he bought 27 packets and returned them to the school authorities.
The incident has also prompted questions about the school’s handling of the allocated supplies. Headteacher Nurul Islam has been issued a show-cause notice for allegedly failing to inform the upazila education office promptly after learning about the matter. He has been asked to provide a written explanation within three working days.
Nesarabad Upazila Primary Education Officer Md Moinul Islam said several days had passed before the education office was informed. He said the headteacher was issued the notice because the school authorities had not reported the matter in a timely manner.
School feeding initiatives are intended to ensure that food allocated for pupils reaches the children for whom it is provided. Schools are therefore expected to maintain proper custody, storage and distribution of such supplies, while education authorities are responsible for monitoring their management.
The episode has consequently raised concerns on two fronts: the alleged removal of food intended for pupils and the delay in formally reporting the incident to the relevant education authorities. The disciplinary action against the student leader and the show-cause notice issued to the headteacher now place the conduct of both individuals under separate scrutiny.
