In a startling breach of public trust, a secondary school teacher and a transport worker have been detained in Barisal for allegedly attempting to sell government-issued textbooks on the black market. These books, intended for free distribution to eighth and ninth-grade students, were intercepted by the police before they could be illicitly integrated into private commercial stock.
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The Midnight Sting Operation
The incident unfolded late on Saturday night in the heart of Barisal city. Acting on a covert tip-off, officers from the Kotwali Model Police Station conducted a raid near a library in the Onami Lane area of Sadar Road.
Law enforcement officials caught the suspects red-handed as they were preparing to offload a significant haul of educational materials. The primary suspect has been identified as Shafikul Islam, an assistant teacher at Karnakathi Agrajatra Ideal Secondary School, located in the Charkaua Union of Barisal Sadar. He was accompanied by Rubel Khan, a van driver allegedly hired to facilitate the transport of the stolen goods.
Scale of the Seizure
During the operation, police recovered 329 government textbooks. These volumes are part of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) initiative, which provides free learning materials to millions of children across Bangladesh to ensure equitable access to education.
According to Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Kamal Hossain, the preliminary investigation suggests that the books were pilfered directly from the stores of Karnakathi Agrajatra Ideal Secondary School. Instead of reaching the hands of underprivileged students, the materials were being diverted to private libraries for illegal resale.
Incident Summary: Textbook Theft Case
| Detail | Information |
| Primary Suspect | Shafikul Islam (Assistant Teacher) |
| Accomplice | Rubel Khan (Van Driver) |
| Location of Arrest | Onami Lane, Sadar Road, Barisal |
| Quantity Recovered | 329 Textbooks |
| Target Grades | Class VIII and Class IX |
| Origin of Goods | Karnakathi Agrajatra Ideal Secondary School |
| Legal Status | Custody pending formal charges |
Legal Consequences and Public Outcry
The arrest has sparked outrage among local parents and educational advocates, who view the theft of student resources as a “heinous betrayal” of the teaching profession. Under the current legal framework, the misappropriation of government property carries severe penalties, including potential imprisonment and permanent dismissal from the teaching service.
SI Md. Kamal Hossain confirmed the details on Sunday, 8 February, stating:
“The books were brought from the school specifically for sale to private vendors. We are currently processing the legal formalities, and a case will be filed against the perpetrators to ensure they face the full rigour of the law.”
The authorities are now investigating whether a wider syndicate involving library owners and other school staff is behind the systemic diversion of free textbooks in the region.