Viral photo of woman tied to tree not of Azimpur Govt Girls’ School head teacher
This photo was shared on social media with misleading information in the caption. Photo: Collected from Facebook
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This photo was shared on social media with misleading information in the caption. Photo: Collected from Facebook
On 18 July, students of Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College had a heated confrontation with some teachers, demanding their resignation. Instead of addressing the students’ concerns, some teachers allegedly brought in six outsiders, who then assaulted the students. The students responded by tying some of these outsiders to trees and pillars until the Army arrived and took control of the situation.
A report by The New Indian Express claimed that the school’s principal, Geetanjali Barua, was among those tied to a tree. However, the school’s official Facebook page and the principal herself have denied this claim.
While the principal remains in her position pending the approval of her resignation, she has temporarily stepped away from her duties.
She clarified that her decision to resign was voluntary, driven by the students’ wishes, rather than any coercion.
“No one needs to force me to resign. If my students no longer want me, I will step down,” Geetanjali Barua told The Business Standard over the phone.
She further said, “I was caught off guard; there were no allegations against me, but as the head of the institution, they demanded my resignation. Consequently, I submitted a resignation request to my higher authority.”
The false narrative was spread by social media accounts such as those of Arifa Rahman Ruma and Bishwojit Bose, both known to be Awami League sympathisers.
Geetanjali Barua, principal of Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College, signing her resignation. Photo: Collected
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Geetanjali Barua, principal of Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College, signing her resignation. Photo: Collected
On 14 July, students of Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College put forward a 4-point demand including immediate removal of office assistant Sabuj Mia, chief assistant Mir Mostafizur Rahman, lecturer Abdur Rahim for their alleged involvement in corruption.
The protesting students also demanded cancellation of all contracts between Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College and Md Shafiqul Islam, who is known as the right-hand man of former Dhaka South mayor Fazle Noor Taposh.
The principal received the complaints and forwarded a letter to the higher authorities requesting the resignation of the implicated individuals. However, the students issued a three-day ultimatum.
On July 18, when the ultimatum expired, students returned to the campus, leading to confrontations with some teachers. The students then demanded the resignation of three other teachers—Shahnaz Akter, Gautam Chandra Paul, and Abdur Rahim—citing allegations of question paper leaks, harassment, threats, involvement in coaching businesses, and insults.
The students pressured the principal to dismiss these teachers.
“But the principal couldn’t meet their demands, as it was beyond her authority,” said Najnin Begum, the assistant head teacher.
“The situation escalated further when some of the accused teachers called on senior students to intervene, which only intensified the students’ anger and led them to insist on the principal’s resignation as well,” she added.
A student from the HSC 2024 batch, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We did not mistreat the principal ma’am. The only people tied up were those whom ma’am brought in from outside to beat us, those who raised their hands against us.”
However, Geetanjali denied the allegation, stating, “I have no idea who those outsiders were, who called them, or why they came.”
The person mistakenly reported as Principal Geetanjali Barua in the viral photo of someone tied to a tree was later identified by a former student as another ex-student named Nodi, who is a Muslim. This clarification disproves the claim that a Hindu was tortured.
“Initially, we did not ask for Gitanjali Ma’am’s resignation. However, on the day of the incident, when outsiders were brought in to beat the students, Ma’am knew about it but didn’t intervene,” said another student.
“Ma’am also gave a week off to Sabuj and Mostafiz, who we initially wanted to be removed. Since she was complicit in the whole situation, we then demanded her resignation as well. Additionally, Ma’am’s behavior was not good, she spoke rudely to everyone,” added Laboni Akter, an intermediate second-year student.
Eventually, the principal submitted her resignation.
Meanwhile, six outsiders entered the school and assaulted the students. The women who intervened did not identify themselves during the incident, only claiming to be former students. They physically confronted the students, who then tied some of them to pillars and trees before calling the military to handle the situation.
According to students, the army personnel arrived, spoke with both the students and the teachers, and the accused teachers submitted their resignation letters. The Army then took custody of the four teachers and the six women brought in from outside.
