This top grading English medium school run by the Methodist church has been made to remain shut since early February following a fracas between guardians and the management.

Expressing their sheer disappointment over the situation, the Guardians' Forum of the school blasted its authorities saying that their children have become hostage to a vested interest group.

"We want the principal to do his job undisturbed, as he is the key person in elevating the school to its present reputable condition," said Md. Selim Khan, the convener of MEMS Guardians' Forum at a press briefing recently.

The Guardians' Forum also allege that the interference of the school's managing board chairman Bishop Nibaron Das since February 12, 2006 has been disturbing its principal Richard Tapas Adhikary in doing his duties.

"The chairman is neither permitting the principal to work, nor is he accepting the position," said ABM Osman Gani, deputy convener of the forum.

"We are not here to witness the personal conflict between the chairman and the principal. We want peaceful environment for the sake of our children's future," Sharmin Rahman, a helpless guardian.

A majority of teachers gave the authorities an ultimatum stating they would abstain from working if the principal were not allowed to perform his regular duties.

The teachers said that right to appoint teachers, develop the institution, should all be taken into concern, while assuring transparency and accountability in all activities.

The 'resist view' should also be changed and turned to a neutral institution from religious aspects and differentiate its activities from the church. The institution should be controlled by a board of directors and constituted according to government rules and regulations, said the teachers.

"To maintain discipline, the chairman's residence should be moved out of the school campus," said a teacher requesting not to be named.

On March 28, 2006, Bishop Nibaron Das complained to Dr. Charlene Wang, the head of Christian Leaders of Bangladesh against the principal. He said that although Richard Tapas Adhikary tendered his resignation on January 21, 2006, he retained the position by manipulating guardians who intend to overturn the MEMS Board and disturb the churches activities.

He said that the principal had several times tried to discredit the reputation of both the church as well as the education with a few influential guardians.

When asked, the chairman said: "For the sake of the school and its students and to keep the academic environment calm, the principal should resign from the post."

The principal denied all allegations made against him.

"The chairman has not taken any step for the development of the school, but unduly used huge amount of money from the school fund," the principal said.

But the chairman said that no money from the fund has been spent on personal affairs, but some of it is being used for the extension of the school building.

On April 4, 2006, Richard Tapas Adhikary approached Dr. Charlene Wang to make allegations against the chairman.

He said that the chairman prevented him from performing the day-to-day academic and administrative work of the school.

"The chairman says he is law, he is not accountable to any one," he said.

The chairman, said Adhikary, takes lots of money earned by school. "He stopped me from opening the school's own bank account. He takes all money in the name of church. He has not issued appointment letters to teachers and staff," he added.

The principal recently filed a case against the chairman at a local court that issued a show cause to the chairman with a week for reply.

Sources said, the latest situation of the dispute is that both groups are quietly waiting for the court order.

The Methodist Church established the school at Mazar Road in Mirpir-1 with the financial support from SK Kim, a Methodist and a business tycoon from South Korea.