21 teachers failed to pass even 3 examinees

After a dismal result in the 2025 Alim examination where only three students sat for the exam and all three failed, Bhowani Pur Betbari Mohila Fazil Madrasha in Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh has come under spotlight.

Established in 1984, the madrasa now presents a picture of dilapidation with its crumbling building. The field is overgrown with weeds, littered with old bricks and weed debris. The field is unusable, enclosed by makeshift boundary walls of patched-up rusty tin sheets. In the single-storey academic building, only two classrooms are functional, while the rest are in dilapidated tin sheds. The condition of the classrooms is also precarious.

Principal Maulana Mahbubul Alam Tota said early marriages among girls lead to low student numbers.

On paper, the student enrolment stands at 271 from Ebtedayi to Fazil levels, with 21 teachers and three employees. However, in the Alim class, it was found that only one student, Ankhi Akter, was present.

The principal claimed their ongoing agitation has disrupted classes. As a result, students do not attend.

But parents say no regular classes are held in the institution. Even if teachers come, students do not show up. The boundary wall has been in a broken state for the past 15 years.

A few students unwilling to disclose their names said there is no conducive environment for studies. There is also no monitoring from the administration. In their view, administrative initiatives could possibly restore the educational atmosphere.

Principal Mahbubul Alam Tota further said they received Tk 12,000 from the UNO office and used it to replace the old tin sheets on the veranda. They are trying to improve the madrasa environment.

Upazila Secondary Education Officer Mostafizur Rahman said Fazil madrasas are monitored by the district administrator's office. He has never visited the institution. However, those with poor results will have their MPO suspended. Further probe will follow.

Meanwhile, locals question that if 21 teachers combined cannot get even three students through, it is easy to gauge how dire the actual state of education there is.