Three students caned, forced to wear shoe garlands for plucking mangoes in Bogura

Three primary school students in Bogura were allegedly caned and forced to wear garlands of shoes around their necks as punishment for plucking raw mangoes from a tree on school premises. The incident has sparked outrage, prompting an investigation by education authorities.

The event took place on April 28 at Buzurgdhama Government Primary School in Bogura Sadar Upazila. Headteacher Gol Sahanara Begum reportedly called three students from classes four and five to her office the following day. After caning them, she allegedly wrote "mango thief" on their backs, strung their own sandals around their necks, and paraded them through every classroom as punishment .

Other teachers have corroborated the incident. Mehedi Hasan, a teacher at the school, said when he saw the three students walking past his class wearing the garlands, he told them to remove them immediately and confronted the headteacher alongside a colleague.

According to reports, on May 2, Sahanara publicly apologised to the students, their parents, and the community in the presence of an Upazila Assistant Education Officer . Despite this, parents remain angry and demand exemplary punishment.

The Upazila Primary Education Office has issued a show-cause notice to the headteacher, but she has not yet responded. A separate investigation committee has been formed by the District Primary Education Officer, with instructions to submit a report within three working days.

Local residents have condemned the punishment. Samsul Alam, a local, said children go to school to learn, and the mango tree is there for children to enjoy. Mahabub, another resident, said while some disciplining may have been warranted, hanging shoes around a child's neck was a disgraceful act. He demanded exemplary punishment for the headteacher.

The accused headteacher could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts.