Teacher served show-cause notice for caning 33 students in Joypurhat

An assistant teacher at Kalai Government Moyeen Uddin High School has been served a show-cause notice after allegedly caning 33 ninth-grade students in the classroom.

M. A. G. Nafsi Talukdar reportedly entered the ninth-grade classroom on Tuesday morning and punished the students with a cane after some of them commented on his late arrival to school.

According to acting headteacher Saiful Islam Bakul, classes at the school usually begin at 10:15 am. On Tuesday, Nafsi Talukdar arrived nearly half an hour late, prompting several students to remark that he often comes late. The teacher, angered by the comments, asked who made the remarks. When students remained silent, he caned all 33 students present.

Several students sustained injuries, including swelling on their backs and hands, and received primary treatment at Kalai Hospital. Following a written complaint by 30 students, the school administration took disciplinary action by issuing a show-cause notice to the teacher, asking for an explanation within three working days.

Nafsi Talukdar said he has health issues, including heart problems, which caused his late arrival. He admitted to caning each student twice but denied beating them indiscriminately.

The incident was reported to the Upazila Secondary Education Officer and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Shamima Akter Jahan, who ordered the teacher to appear for an explanation. The UNO said previous complaints against the teacher exist and assured that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken.

Akib Hossain’s father, Kalam, called for a fair investigation, saying, “It is unacceptable for a teacher to come late and punish students.”

Authorities are awaiting the teacher’s response before taking further action.