Shukla Rani, the principal of Bakerganj Government College, was forced to resign, a storm of condemnation

Barisal's Bakerganj Government College principal Shukla Rani Halder was blocked and forced to resign by outsiders including students. The protest on August 29 was led by a college student and the son of a local BNP leader.

However, Bakerganj Upazila BNP convenor Nasir Jamaddar claimed on Saturday (August 31) afternoon that there is no information that anyone from Chhatra Dal was involved in forcing the resignation of Principal Shukla Rani Halder. I heard that normal students did it.

Earlier on August 29 at noon, a group of outsiders including students blocked Principal Shukla Rani Halder in her office for about four hours and forced her to resign. The picture of the helpless condition of the principal under blockade spread on Facebook. There has been a storm of condemnation on social media regarding this matter. Shukla Rani Haldar's former students and locals protested the incident with pictures of his helpless condition.

KM Hasibul Alam, the coordinator of anti-discrimination movement Bakerganj, said that no one of the anti-discrimination student movement had any involvement with the protest and forced resignation of principal Shukla Rani Halder.

According to related sources, 14th BCS education cadre officer Shukla Rani Halder joined Bakerganj Government College as principal in mid-2022. Earlier, he was a professor in the Department of English at Government Brajmohan (BM) College, Barisal.

Eyewitnesses said that the protest started in the college from 10 am on August 29. Most of the protestors were BNP workers. The protest demanded the resignation of the principal Shukla Rani Halder, alleging financial corruption, non-regular attendance at the college, etc. At one point, the protesters barged into his office and pressured him to resign. Then Shukla Rani Halder was forced to write 'I resigned' on a white paper around two o'clock. Later, when asked to give his signature and seal, he gave it. After that the situation calmed down.

However, regarding the charges brought against Principal Shukla Rani Halder, he said, 'There is no concrete evidence for even one charge. There is conflict among college teachers. A party of them used students and outsiders.'

In this regard, the former president of Barisal district branch of Conscious Citizen Committee (SANAK) Professor Shah Sajeda was the first woman teacher and the first woman chairman in the management department of government BM College. Professor Shukla Rani Halder was his colleague. Shah Sajeda said, 'Seeing such behavior with a teacher like Shukla, I silently shed tears. He is my junior colleague. Ever since I saw her helpless, devastated picture on social media, I have not been able to forgive myself. Such behavior with a female teacher is unacceptable.'

Former student of Government BM College Mita Mitu wrote, 'Professor Shukla Rani Ma'am was my favorite teacher in the English Department of Barisal BM College. Currently, he is the principal of Bakerganj Government College. He was also resigned. He is a wonderful, always smiling, joyful person. Actually ma'am, people like you really don't deserve them. They have no qualifications. Excuse me ma'am.'

A former student of Barisal Govt. IHT named MM Zubair wrote on Facebook, 'I got Ma'am as a guest teacher while studying at Barisal Govt. IHT. A student friendly teacher with always smiling and generous heart. Taught at BM College, currently Principal at Bakerganj Government College. I think someone is taking advantage of students. As his student and a citizen of Bangladesh, I protest and demand a fair investigation. Excuse me, ma'am.' Many such writings and comments are circulating on the Facebook wall.

A BCS cadre officer said on condition of anonymity, 'Shukla Ma'am was my teacher. He is childless. The students were all his children. I can't accept such cruel behavior with an ideal teacher like him.'

KM Hasibul Alam, acting as the Bakerganj coordinator of the anti-discrimination movement, said, 'There was factionalism among the teachers in the college. I think they are involved in this incident. Since he has been posted as principal during the Awami League government, there may be some resentment in that regard. But the process by which a teacher, moreover a BCS cadre, has been dismissed is neither legal nor acceptable. The allegations against the principal could have been investigated administratively to prove it, but no one should have been forced to do so.'

Principal Shukla Rani Halder said, 'Some of those whom I have taught have insulted me. But there were more outsiders than students. Not being able to calm them somehow, I wrote “I resigned”. Now the whole matter will be decided by the higher authorities of the Ministry of Education.'

In this regard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Saifur Rahman said, “I have also heard that a 'resignation' letter has been taken from the principal. But this is not resignation. The Ministry of Education will take action in this regard. I told everything to the district administrator.

Bangladesh /KH