Barishal Education Board’s New Secretary Faces Student Opposition
In a surprising turn of events, students at the Barishal Education Board have refused to accept the newly appointed secretary, Professor Dr. Fatema Horen. This resistance was evident on Monday (January 27) when regular students staged a protest against her presence.
From 3 pm to 5 pm that day, students gathered at the education board premises, preventing Secretary Dr. Fatema Horen from joining her new position. Subsequently, a meeting was held with the Chairman of the Barishal Education Board, Professor M. Yunus Ali Siddique, to address the students’ concerns.
Dr. Fatema Horen had previously attempted to take up the position of Vice Principal at BM College but faced opposition from the students. According to Akbar Mubin, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement at BM College branch, Dr. Fatema Horen was labeled as an anti-Islamist and a supporter of the Awami League. Despite her efforts to join as Vice Principal at BM College, she was met with resistance. Now, as the Secretary of the board, the students are demanding that her appointment be revoked.
The students have even informed the concerned authorities at the ministry level about their grievances. Chairman Professor M. Yunus Ali Siddique confirmed that the student coordinators had visited his office to express their discontent with the appointment of Secretary Dr. Fatema Horen. He mentioned that Dr. Horen has yet to assume her position and has not physically joined the board. However, attempts have been made to contact her via phone.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Secretary Dr. Fatema Horen will be able to overcome the challenges and gain the trust of the students. The Chairman assured that the students’ voices have been heard, and their concerns will be taken into consideration moving forward.
The unexpected opposition faced by the new Secretary highlights the importance of fostering positive relationships between educational authorities and students. Only time will tell how this situation at the Barishal Education Board will unfold in the days to come.
