Allegations of Smear Campaign,Governing Body Chairmanship Disrupt Academic Environment at Kumira Residential Girls School and College.

Md Omar Faruk | Special Correspondent. A fresh controversy surrounding the appointment of the governing body's chairman at Kumira Residential Girls' School and College in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has allegedly disrupted the institution's academic environment. The principal claims that a vested group has been conducting a sustained smear campaign against him in an attempt to secure the chairman's position. Established in 1986, Kumira Residential Girls' School and College is one of the most renowned educational institutions in the area. The institution is strategically located, with KSRM Industrial Complex to the north, KYCR Coil Industries Ltd. to the south, the railway line to the east, and the busy Dhaka–Chattogram Highway to the west. The institution received academic recognition in 1992 and first participated in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination under the Cumilla Education Board in 1994. It currently has around 1,200 students. Founded by the late Alhaj Nazir Ahmed Chowdhury, the school was upgraded to a college in 2005 with the support of education enthusiasts and local well-wishers. At that time, it had only 49 students. Today, its alumni serve the country in various prestigious professions, including medicine, engineering, law, academia, and public administration. Among its distinguished alumni are Nargis Sultana Suma, an Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), and Iritiha Alam Nabila, an Assistant Professor at Jahangirnagar University. The institution was recognized as the Best Educational Institution at the upazila level in 2019. In 2023, Principal Md. Nasir Uddin was honored as the Best Institution Head at the upazila level. According to institutional sources, the prestigious nature and strategic importance of the institution have made the position of chairman of the governing body highly sought after. Competition over the post has reportedly led to repeated disputes and controversies over the years. Principal Md. Nasir Uddin said he has been serving the institution since 2005 and has witnessed several disputes related to the formation of the governing body. "The institution stands on Bangladesh Railway land and does not have its own permanent fund. It has reached its current position through government support and the contributions of education-loving people. However, every time the governing body is formed, complications arise. Some individuals believe they can become chairman by putting pressure on me, but the appointment process involves multiple legal and administrative steps through the Chattogram Education Board, the Upazila Administration, and the District Administration," he said. He further alleged that he had previously faced harassment over the same issue and that similar attempts were being made again. "These recurring disputes are affecting the normal academic environment and damaging the institution's reputation. Our primary goal is to ensure uninterrupted education for the students," he added. The allegations made by the principal could not be independently verified, and no comments were immediately available from those accused. Their response will be included if received. Parents and local education-conscious residents expressed hope that the relevant authorities would take necessary steps to resolve the issue through due process and ensure that the institution remains free from personal interests and administrative conflicts.