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COX'S BAZAR, Dec 7, 2025 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar has said 32,000 schools currently have vacant head teacher positions, but promotions for an equal number of assistant teachers remain stalled due to ongoing legal complications.

"We are unable to promote 32,000 assistant teachers because of a court case. I am doing my best to resolve it. Once the case is settled, many issues will be resolved," he told reporters after visiting Koiyarbil Government Primary School in Kutubdia upazila today.

He noted that a shortage of teachers was evident during visits to several schools in Kutubdia. Recruitment of new teachers will help address shortages in remote areas across the country, including Kutubdia, which remains geographically isolated from the mainland, he added.

Earlier in the day, the adviser inspected classrooms, infrastructure and administrative facilities at Uttar Lemshikhali Government Primary School and Purba Dhurung Government Primary School. He also visited Kutubdia's historic lighthouse and beach.

Among those present were the adviser's wife Rama Saha, Dhaka Divisional Primary Education Deputy Director Mohammad Ali Reza, Cox's Bazar District Primary Education Officer Mohammad Shahin Mia, Kutubdia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kyathoipru Marma, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohammad Shakib Ul Hasan, Acting Upazila Education Officer Muslim Uddin, Upazila Agriculture Officer Asim Kumar Das and Upazila Public Health Engineer Mohammad Farhad Mia.