Former Zianagar upazila chairman in Pirojpur Masud Sayeedi on Saturday said there is no alternative to an ideal teacher in reforming the state and building a developed country having citizens with qualities like honesty, competency, and good character.

“Good education is the backbone of a nation since without it no country can progress, while a teacher is the most important person in educational activities. A nation’s perfect shape and progress depend on teachers,” he said.

Masud Sayeedi, also the son of late Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, was addressing a programme at F Karim Alim Madrasa in the upazila this morning.

Comparing education with light and a teacher with a lamp, he said a teacher can illuminate a nation by giving students the light of knowledge.

Masud, however, lamented that the number of poor-quality teachers is increasing rapidly due to the criminalisation of politics. “No one, including parents, students, teachers, and colleagues, is safe from such a teacher.”