We are shocked by the report of two teachers of Chattogram's Forestry Science and Technology Institute (FSTI) allegedly extorting money from their students for years by threatening them with poor scores in exams. This is one of the worst-case scenarios of corruption within an educational institute where students are held hostage by those who are supposed to be mentoring them and encouraging them to be ethical and knowledgeable. It is quite a mystery how these two teachers could allegedly run this racket for so long, each of them charging Tk 5,000 for every exam, among other illegal practices such as allowing students to see exam scripts and blocking CCTV cameras being installed in exam halls. Students of the institute have provided a video clip to this paper in which one of the teachers is asking for money unless they were ready to lose a year.    

These two teachers have been running their blackmailing business with impunity while other senior officials have been seemingly oblivious of their crimes. They clearly took advantage of the fact that in order to get a job as a forester in the forest department, one has to get excellent marks in the exams at the FSTI. The forest department recruits their foresters only from FSTI diploma-holders. Out of 130 students, only about 30 are taken by the department. Thus the students are left in a helpless state in which either they have to get the required scores by allegedly paying money to these teachers or risk failing.

The institute director's response that they will be investigating the complaints is all too familiar. Recall the dillydallying of probe committees in many such cases of irregularity in public institutes that do not really lead to any action. It is hard to fathom why such malpractices have been allowed to carry on for so long, especially as it is regarding the proper training of foresters who are supposed to eventually maintain our precious forest areas. The forest department needs 10,000 foresters for this crucial task and therefore must be able to recruit the best students of the Institute. It is about time the concerned authorities investigated this matter and took stern action against these two teachers if the allegations are proven. They should also make sure that the Institute is cleansed of any corruption so that students can study without being intimidated and blackmailed and can fairly compete in the exams.