The Jhalokathi Sadar upazila administration seized about 20 tonnes of books meant for free distribution among the students of high schools from a school at the upazila in Jhalokathi on Monday. At the time, a truck with books, which were sold illegally, was also seized from the premises of Razapur Pilot High School. The new and old books were seized from a room of the school in the morning.
Meanwhile, Upazila Education Officer Abul Bashar Talukder was detained in this connection. On secret information that the books were sold secretly and it was being shifted from the school with truck, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Jhalokathi Sadar Md Sohag Hawlader visited the spot and seized the books. The textbooks of Class Six to Class Seven were sold at Tk 13.75 per kilogram to a trader of Syedpur area.
It was alleged that Upazila Education Officer Abul Bashar Talukder sold the books illegally. Abul Bashar Talukder claimed that new books of 2019 and old books of 2018 were mixed at a place due to lack of place. So he sold the books.
UNO Sohag Hawlader said that although the old books can be sold, but there is no rule to sell the new books. However, the Upazila Education Officer sold the books secretly and illegally. A general diary was filed against the officer with Razapur Police Station in this connection. The matter was also informed to the Anti-Corruption Commission.