Here is the allegations against Farid Ahmed, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in Bangladesh:
🔹 Irregular Foreign Trips:
Farid Ahmed allegedly went on a government-funded foreign trip to Indonesia just 10 days before his retirement, without proper official approval. Previously, he had undertaken at least 12 foreign trips using ministry and directorate funds. For the Indonesia trip, where ticket prices typically range from 30,000 to 90,000 BDT, he allegedly claimed 500,000 BDT, raising suspicions of misappropriating several crores.
🔹 Violation of Government Travel Restrictions:
Despite a 13-point directive discouraging unnecessary foreign travel by government officials, issued by the Interim Government, he continued to travel abroad, disregarding national interest and fiscal discipline.
🔹 Abuse of Power:
He allegedly harassed a PTI Instructor, Mohammad Zakir Hossain, by issuing a disciplinary punishment for exposing a fake High Court verdict, while the actual perpetrators of the forgery were not held accountable.
🔹 Questionable Use of Development Funds:
Despite a massive budget of over 38,000 crore BDT under the PEDP-4 (Primary Education Development Program) funded by the World Bank and others, little progress was observed. Critics allege funds were used for frequent foreign tours and non-essential expenses.
🔹 Controversial Decision-Making:
During his trips, he delegated only limited responsibilities while retaining financial authority. Special privileges like VIP airport lounge access were arranged through official orders, further raising concerns about misuse of position.
🔹 Forgery in High Court Verdict Reference:
Two different versions of the same High Court verdict (Writ Petition No. 86/2016) were found, both bearing official certification. Farid Ahmed allegedly issued an unlawful and biased reprimand order referencing one of these forged documents.
These serious allegations point to a pattern of misuse of power, questionable financial conduct, and violation of official protocols. If investigated transparently, these issues could pave the way for improved governance and accountability in Bangladesh’s primary education sector.