7 Cumilla Govt Women's College teachers transferred for holding HSC exam in waterlogged condition

The Ministry of Education has transferred seven teachers of Cumilla Government Women's College following nationwide criticism over the holding of HSC examinations in severe waterlogged conditions. It is the largest single transfer of teachers in the college's history.

The transfer order was issued on Thursday (July 23) through a gazette signed by Md. A. Quddus, deputy secretary of the Government Colleges-2 Branch under the Secondary and Higher Education Division.

Those transferred include Vice Principal AKM Jahirul Alam, Professor Md. Abdul Malek (Mathematics), Associate Professor Kanak Barua (Botany), Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Ullah Majumdar (Islamic History and Culture), Assistant Professor Nur Mohammad Nur Ullah (Political Science), Lecturer Md. Al-Amin (Accounting) and Associate Professor Mohammad Mohsin (English).

They have been instructed to be released from their current workplace by July 29.

The controversy erupted on July 13, when heavy rainfall submerged roads and the college campus in Cumilla. With the examination centre surrounded by floodwater, Cumilla City Corporation arranged boats to transport HSC candidates. Images of students travelling by boat to sit for their exams quickly went viral on social media, triggering widespread criticism and raising questions over the management of the examination.

The incident also drew political attention. On July 18, Cumilla-6 lawmaker Monirul Haque Chowdhury visited the college, expressing dissatisfaction over the waterlogging situation and the overall examination arrangements.

During a meeting with teachers, he also voiced concern over the negative impact the incident had on the government's and the education ministry's image.

The Ministry of Education has not officially stated whether the transfers are disciplinary in nature. However, an official from the Cumilla Education Board, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ministry has the authority to transfer teachers at any time under existing rules, but declined to comment on the reasons behind the simultaneous transfer of seven faculty members.