Kalpana Rani Indu, headmistress of Srimantakathi Government Primary School in Jhalokati Sadar Upazila has been accused of various irregularities and corruption. There are serious allegations against the headmaster including embezzlement of school funds, submission of extra bills and vouchers in the name of purchasing various school materials, withdrawal of money from the bank by forging the signature of the school president, forcibly taking signatures of committee members by leaving the resolution book blank.
Kalpana Rani Indu has even been accused of selling a building built in 2008 without any decision of the committee in consultation with the contractor. Bikash Hawladar, president of the school's own managing committee, has lodged a written complaint with the district primary education officer for the urgent transfer of the headmaster due to financial corruption of headmaster Kalpana Rani Indu. In the complaint, he mentioned that in a meeting held after the election of the chairman of the committee in 2021, the financial account of the school was demanded from the headmaster.
The headmaster insulted all the members of the committee. When the matter was verbally complained to the District Primary Education Officer, in the presence of the Sadar Upazila Education Officer, she failed to account for Tk 26,000 out of a total of Tk. According to the investigation, the headmaster Kalpana Rani Indu withdrew Tk 1.5 lakh. With this money she has built only three rides for the children near the school grounds.
Locals and committee members are furious with the headmaster for the cost of building the rides. To appease them, the headmaster created and submitted a fictitious bill voucher. In the memo of a shop called City Workshop and Steel House on Station Road, Jhalokati, the price of GI pipe is Tk 78000, ordinary pipe is Tk 4800, MS chain is Tk 12000 and ringplate hook is Tk 15000.
Two gallons of Berger red oxide from a shop called Morsheda Hardware Store in Kaukhali upazila of adjoining Pirojpur district cost Tk 2000 and two gallon Berger point Tk 3000. Rafin Enterprise of Banaripara upazila of Barisal district has shown in a voucher of Tk 15000 including 15 sacks of cement and sand from a shop worth Tk 16000.
However, handwriting has been found to be similar in all these vouchers. The idea of the locals is that the headmaster herself or someone of his choice has created this fabricated bill voucher.
Locals have demanded action against headmaster Kalpana Rani Indu after investigating the bill voucher. Headmaster Kalpana Rani Indu said, "I have withdrawnTk 28,000 for the financial year 2020-2021. I sometimes spend this money on school work. I did not get the signature of the school president at the time of withdrawal of Rs. 1.5 lakh allocated from the bank for the financial year 2020-2021. I raised this money with the signature of my superior authority (Upazila Primary Education Officer).”
Asked if the Upazila Education Officer could give the President's signature, she could not give a proper answer. She did not say anything when asked if the cost of making three toys was Tk 1.5 lakh. The headmaster also said about the sale of another building of the school, "I don't know anything about it." The Upazila Education Office can say that. I have no contract with the contractor. District Primary Education Officer (DPEO) said. Aminul Islam said, "When I visited the school on the 8th, we did not receive any complaint. If you complain to us, action will be taken according to the rules.”
Regarding the issue of signature of Upazila Education Officer (TEO), DPEO said that the withdrawal of this money usually has the signature of the headmaster and the president. But I do not understand the issue of withdrawing money with the signature of TEO without the signature of the President. A new person has joined as the TEO of Sadar Upazila yesterday.