54 teachers deprived of salary, bonus before Eid

At least 54 teachers of different government primary schools in Baliadangi upazila of the district did not get Eid bonus and the monthly salaries for July and August due to alleged negligence of the upazila primary education officer.

They joined different government primary schools of the upazila in January as pre-primary teachers under Primary Education Development Project (PEDP)-3. They were due to get salaries for July and August with Eid bonus.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Afzal Hossain sent the papers for release of the salaries of 54 teachers to Rupali Bank, Baliadangi Branch on Thursday. The bank, however, could not pay their salaries due to shortage of money.  

"As we got the papers for releasing salary and bonus of Tk 22 lakh on Thursday at around 11:00am, we paid Tk 3.3 lakh to 23 teachers. We could not pay the rest due to shortage of money," said Bank Manager Masud Rana.

 Afzal said they had sent the papers for releasing salaries and bonus to the branch on Wednesday. When asked why he did not send the papers earlier, he kept mum.

Seeking anonymity, several teachers alleged that the education officer sends the papers late to the bank every month.