Mirsarai Upazila in Chattogram is facing a critical shortage of assistant education officers, with eight out of nine sanctioned posts currently vacant. The lone officer in service is expected to remain until January, leaving the local primary education office under severe strain ahead of upcoming merit evaluation exams, the national election, and the annual textbook festival. The upazila, covering 482.88 square kilometers, includes 191 government primary schools, 45 kindergartens, two private primary schools, and six ibtedayi madrasas, serving around 34,000 students. Officials say the shortage of officers has disrupted regular school inspections and parent–teacher meetings, which previously helped maintain educational standards. Only one of six clerical positions is also filled, further hampering administrative work. Upazila Primary Education Officer A.K.M. Fazlul Haque warned that managing so many institutions with minimal staff will be extremely difficult during the upcoming events. He urged immediate recruitment of assistant education officers to ensure smooth operations and maintain educational quality.