Two deceased teachers have been assigned duties as assistant presiding officers for the 13th National Election in the Jamalpur-1 constituency (Dewanganj-Bokshiganj).

Dewanganj upazila election office yesterday issued letters in the names of the two teachers, instructing them to attend training sessions for election duties.

The teachers were identified as Md Abdul Karim and Ataur Rahman. Karim, an assistant teacher at Char Magurihat Dakhil Madrasa in Dewanganj, died of illness on August 2, 2024. Ataur Rahman, who served as an assistant teacher at Polakandi High School in the same upazila, passed away about four months ago.

According to the letters, signed by upazila election officer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, training sessions for assistant presiding officers have been arranged on January 24 and 25 at Dewanganj Government Abdul Khalek Memorial Degree College. Selected officials were instructed to attend the training.

The list of assistant presiding officers attached to the letters included the names of the two deceased teachers.

Md Shafiul Alam, superintendent of Char Magurihat Dakhil Madrasa, said, “Abdul Karim’s name was not included in the list sent from the madrasa for election duty. I do not understand how his name was added.”

Abul Kalam Azad, acting head teacher of Polakandi High School, said, “Ataur Rahman died four months ago. I have no idea how his name appeared on the list of assistant presiding officers.”

Responding to the issue, upazila election officer Rafiqul told The Daily Star, “Due to an unintentional mistake and technical error, the names of the two deceased teachers were included in the list. Their names have been removed from the final list.”

Mohammad Yusuf Ali, Jamalpur deputy commissioner and returning officer, said, “We will investigate how the names of deceased teachers were included.”