The Directorate of Madrasa Education has temporarily suspended the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) benefits—comprising salary and allowances—of three madrasa heads in Bhola’s Lalmohan and Char Fashion upazilas for allegedly forming fake recruitment boards.
The authorities also issued a show-cause notice demanding an explanation within three working days as to why their MPO benefits should not be permanently canceled.
The accused officials are Md. Mustafa Kamal Jafri, Principal of Lalmohan Muslimia Alim Madrasa; Muhammad Zafar Uddin, Superintendent of East Faridabad Yunusia Jihadul Uloom Dakhil Madrasa in Char Fashion; and Md. Omar Farooq, Superintendent of Char Shashibhushan Hossainia Dakhil Madrasa.
The directive was issued on June 29 in a letter signed by Mohammad Shukur Alam Majumdar, Assistant Director (Finance) at the Directorate of Madrasa Education and Member Secretary of the MPO Selection and Approval Committee.
According to the letter, the officials forged official documents and the signature of a representative of the Director General to establish fake recruitment boards. Through this fraudulent process, Md. Shakil was appointed as an office assistant-cum-computer operator at Lalmohan Muslimia Alim Madrasa. Similarly, Md. Miraj Hoson and Affan were illegally appointed as lab assistants at the two madrasas in Char Fashion.
The fraud was uncovered when the MPO enrollment documents for these illegally appointed employees were submitted to the Directorate. The MPO Selection and Approval Committee identified the forged documents while verifying June applications. Copies of the suspension and show-cause notice have been forwarded to the relevant Upazila Secondary Education Offices and the managing committee presidents of the respective madrasas.
When contacted, Lalmohan Muslimia Alim Madrasa Principal Md. Mustafa Kamal Jafri denied the allegations. "I have the reference number of the DG representative’s letter. We will challenge the show-cause notice," he stated.
The superintendents of the other two madrasas could not be reached for comment despite multiple phone calls.
Mir AKM Abul Khair, the Char Fashion Upazila Secondary Education Officer who also holds additional charge of Lalmohan, acknowledged the situation. "I have heard about the matter, though the official letter hasn't reached my email yet," he said.
He explained that time constraints during the online MPO application process made immediate verification difficult. "Brokers and madrasa heads sometimes forge official signatures so meticulously that they appear completely genuine. If their written replies to the Directorate are unsatisfactory, we will take further action as directed by the department," he added.
