NETROKONA, Apr 03 (V7N) — In a firm stance against the culture of using students for political protocols, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal (MP, Netrokona-1) has ordered disciplinary action against a school headmaster who forced students to line the streets to welcome him. The incident occurred on Thursday (April 2) in the Udaypur Bazar area of Kalmakanda Upazila.

The Deputy Speaker, who was traveling to inspect an under-construction dam in Guraduba Haore, expressed immediate anger and dissatisfaction upon seeing rows of students from Udaypur Mitali High School standing on both sides of the road under the sun to greet his motorcade.

Key Details of the Incident

  • The Violation: School authorities had reportedly instructed students to leave their classrooms and stand in lines at Udaypur Bazar to provide a formal welcome to the Deputy Speaker.

  • Immediate Reaction: Rather than accepting the welcome, Barrister Kaiser Kamal halted his convoy and expressed his disappointment to the local administration. He directed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) to take immediate legal and administrative action against the headmaster responsible.

  • Personal Visit to the School: Following the incident, the Deputy Speaker visited the school premises to address the students and teachers directly.

"Education is the Priority"

During his interaction at the school, Barrister Kaiser Kamal delivered a stern warning to the teaching staff:

"It does not matter who is a Minister or an MP; education is the most important thing. Students should never be made to stand on the streets under any circumstances. If we need to talk to students, we will go to the educational institution ourselves."

He further noted that if the school had a genuine reason for him to visit, they should have invited him formally, and he would have made time to meet the students in a proper academic environment rather than on a public road.

Administrative Action

SM Mikail Islam, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kalmakanda, confirmed that the Deputy Speaker’s orders are being processed. "We have already informed the concerned educational authorities to take strict action against the accused teacher as per the existing rules," the UNO stated.

Social and Political Context

The Deputy Speaker’s reaction has been widely praised by parents and education activists in Netrokona. For decades, it has been a common—yet controversial—practice in rural Bangladesh for local leaders to be welcomed by students lining the streets.

This move aligns with the broader spirit of the "July Charter" and the ongoing reforms in the 13th National Parliament, where leaders are being urged to dismantle "VIP culture" and prioritize public service over traditional displays of protocol.

END/SMA/AJ