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Principal assaulted for not obeying UP chairman

Forced to flee FaridpurATI campus

Reaz Ahmad
The principal of an agriculture institute has left his campus in Faridpur and took refuge in the capital to escape the wrath of a Union Parishad chairman, who happens to be a cabinet member's cousin.
Manhandled by the men loyal to Kuijuri UP Chairman Khondoker
Iftekhar Ahmed alias Iku Mia, Principal of Faridpur Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) Khondoker Md Saifullah left his campus residence onThursday. He filed complaints with the district and police administrations and also with the office of the Director General of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Saifullah told The Daily Star yesterday that local ruling party cadres loyal to the UP chairman assaulted him at his ATI residence on Tuesday.
The attack came on the pretext that he did not provide the chairman with "proper protocol", when he visited the campus to request him to accept the joining of an instructor—Mondol Istiak Hasan—who was transferred from Boalmari agriculture office to Faridpur ATI.
"In my 30 years' career I have never heard of such a thing that a government institute principal gives protocol to a Union Parishad chairman," said the ATI principal showing the marks of wounds on his face and head.
He alleged Mondol Istiak Hasan, transferred to his institute without his prior knowledge on April 8, was withdrawn from the same institute around eight months ago on charges of professional misconduct and malpractices in student admission.
"As I initially refused to accept his joining letter and tried to consult with the high-ups, his elder brother Barkat Mondol, Iku Mia, identifying himself as a cousin of Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, and their cadres put pressure on me on April 9," alleged Saifullah.
He said the next day he had to accept the joining letter. Istiak's another brother Rubel Mondol then asked him to call the chairman and convey him the news.
"As I refused, Barkat Mondol and a gang of seven to eight youngsters entered my house and assaulted me. They asked me why I didn't provide the chairman with proper protocol and threatened me so that I call him. I
obeyed and the chairman from other side just thanked me and hung up," described Saifullah.
Iku Mia yesterday denied assaulting the ATI principal. Asked why he thought it was his domain to intervene in the affairs of a government educational institute, he said, "The instructor [Istiak] is a local and Mosharraf [minister] bhai recommended his transfer here. So I just requested the principal to accept his joining."
Contacted over phone, Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told The Daily Star last night that if someone in his own Union Parishad was insulted, "Do you think people should spare the offender?"
Being a government employee, one should not misbehave with the people, he commented.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star last night that a cabinet colleague has brought the issue to her notice on Thursday. She said she has already instructed to receive a written complaint from the principal and probe the matter.
She added that there was no question of an ATI principal giving protocol to a UP chairman.
As our Faridpur correspondent Rezaul Karim contacted Istiak's brother Borkot Mondol, he denied the assault, while Istiak's mobile phone was found switched off.
Acting Superintendent of Police of Faridpur Bijoy Bashak said he has instructed the officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station to give a report after investigation.
Helaluddin Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Faridpur, said he has requested the AIT principal to file a case.
Principal Saifullah yesterday showed a draft and said he would file a case through someone by tomorrow as he does not feel it safe to do it himself.