A caring head teacher in pandemic

If a student is absent from school for three days without taking leave, Din Bandhu Roy, head teacher of Lemubari Binoda Sundori High School in Manikganj Sadar upazila, rushes to the home of that student to learn what has happened. 

He takes care of each of the school's students. Din Bandhu works hard not only to help the students achieve good results but also to develop them as good human beings. He arranges open discussions with the students and guardians on different issues, including about the bad effects of drugs and child marriage. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, he started to discuss with other teachers how the students' education could be bolstered. He divided the teachers of the school in eight groups, who go to the residences of those students who cannot afford to attend virtual classes. Din Bandhu has given the teachers this responsibility of giving suggestions and guidance to those students about their studies amid the pandemic, following health guidelines. 

"He always tries to make the students good human beings. That is why he is locally-known as a clean man with a good heart." – Abdul Aziz, a resident of Lemubari area

Abdul Aziz, a resident of Lemubari area, said, "The headmaster of the school arranges meeting with the students and guardians regularly to prevent child marriage. He has made arrangements to monitor almost every SSC [Secondary School Certificate] and JSC [Junior School Certificate] examinee's study at their homes before the examinations. He always tries to make the students good human beings. That is why he is locally-known as a clean man with a good heart." 

Rakib Hossain, a student of class 10 at the school, said, "The Head Sir himself monitors the attendance of the students. He also ensures that the students wear the school uniform properly. He informs the guardians if students keep their hair long. We get all the information and suggestions about our studies from Sir in and outside the classes."  

Abdul Shafi Uddin, another resident of the locality, said, "Students have to attend the school regularly. They have to wear the school uniforms properly. They are not allowed to have long hair. The headmaster monitors these things regularly. All of these have made the environment of the school so nice." 

Din Bandhu was born on June 15 in 1968 at Mohadebpur village in Shibaloy upazila of Manikganj. He lost his father at the age of four. He had to struggle a lot to continue his studies. 

"It is a kind of battle to continue studying as a child of a poor family," said Din Bandhu.

"As a teacher, I will try to develop the students as good human beings to overcome all hurdles – till my death," said Din Bandhu.  

When asked about the need for coaching, he replied that it was possible to obtain good results only by attending classes in the school regularly. There was no connection between coaching and good results, he commented.

Recognition 

Din Bandhu received the Best Head Teacher in Manikganj Sadar award three times – in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He was also selected as the best head teacher in Dhaka division in 2018. That year, the government financed his tour to Thailand. He participated in a two-week long training on different education related topics there. 

His academic and professional career

Din Bandhu passed his SSC examinations from Barangail Gopal Chandra High School located in Barangail village in Shibaloy upazila in 1986. Then, from Mohadebpur Union Degree College, he passed his HSC examinations in 1988 and from Government Debendra College under National University, he obtained Bachelor of Science degree in 1990.

He started his career in teaching as a part time teacher in Barangail High School in 1991. In 1994, he joined Jatrapur Adarsha High School in Horirampur upazila of the district as a permanent teacher. Then he joined Lemubari Binoda Sundori High School as an assistant headmaster in 2014. In 2015, he was promoted to the position of head teacher at the school.