Transparency International Bangladesh on Tuesday said that the incident of giving marriage gifts to the son of the state minister for primary and mass education Md Zakir Hossain by closing 265 schools in Kurigarm and receiving the gifts was loathsome.

Expressing grave concern over the incident, the organisation urged the government to give an explanation for the incident and bring all concerned people, including the state minister, to book.

A press release, issued by the TIB on the day, said that as per media reports the teachers joined a ‘bride feast’ of the son of the state minister on Sunday (January 8) after closing all 265 primary schools under Chilmari, Rahumari and Char Rajibpur upazilas in Kurigram.

The teachers were forced to give Tk 500 a person as token money and gold rings, refrigerators and washing machines were given to the state minister and the minister received the gifts, as per the reports.

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the TIB, said that the matter was indecent and violation of moral liabilities of the state minister, concerned education officers and teachers to the education system, teaching profession and the students.

‘The Kurigram incident is the most alarming example of the hostage situation of the country’s education sector through the process of partisan politics and misuse of power,’ he said.

None of the state minister, the concerned education officers and teachers could deny their responsibilities over the incident, he continued. 

TIB director said that the government should give clear explanation as to whether the reserved vacations of the headmasters could be used for events like this.

Iftekharuzzaman said that this incident could not take place without the active participation of the district and upazila education officers.

He demanded the explanation of receiving the gifts by the state minister and his family.

‘There is no good future for the country’s education sector if accountability cannot be ensured in the sector,’ he said and demanded explanation from the government regarding the incident.