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As he doesn't meet the immigration standards he must leave the UK. If he meets the criteria for any of the existing immigration visas he could stay. He could apply in his home country for the Tier 1 skilled visa.

There is no special case here - he is not a brain surgeon or British soldier. These types of people may be able to be given special consideration.

I don't believe that he didn't know his immigration status.

- Dionysus, London, 12/03/2009 21:31
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mr zakaria should not be sent back to bangladesh as he has been in this country for 12 years. keep him here. he was my teacher in crown woods secondary school and is a very very good teacher.

- Tom, charlton, london, 10/03/2009 13:05
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Mr Zakaria in a terrific teacher who tought me french and bangali, he was the one who helped me achieve my potential grades. I can't believe this is happening! he has the right to stay in the country, as it isn't his fault that he was not aware of the change of law in 2000. How many people can you find with talents that he has? I am just so shocked and i just wish the best for him as he played an important role in my life by helping me get my grades and incouraging me to study further. Wish you all the best Mr Zakaria and just keep tight and don't give up.

- Zakira Begum, London/Forest Gate, 23/10/2008 12:26
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He was great teacher it be sad too see him go

- Elisa, London, 22/10/2008 20:08
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So, deport Mr Zakaria, who has proven his worth as a good, competent and respected teacher who has paid his way over the last 12 years. In his place, admit a load of sponging, benefits dependent riff-raff linked to overseas criminal elements with no prospect of contributing anything to British society.

After all, rules are rules.

- Edward Thompson, Bedfordshire, 20/10/2008 10:25
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What I want to know is, how did the school that he is working in not know that he was illegally in the UK. There are certain background checks that they should complete on all staff, does this mean that they didn’t carry these out?

- Gareth, London, 20/10/2008 10:19
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He's making a positive contribution and should stay; given the lack of skilled language teachers who will actually work for the insulting salary that is paid to them, the government is shooting itself in the foot yet again...

- Patrick, Singapore, 20/10/2008 06:14
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We do not need Bengali taught in our schools and, if there are no British teachers of French available (which I find highly unlikely), French is surely better taught by a native Frenchman. This teacher's 'skills' are therefore not required, thank you very much.

The fact that he has broken the law for 8 years (the judge said he should have applied for a visa in 2000) is no excuse for him to be allowed to remain. He has no legitimate claim to be in Britain and is of no particular benefit to the country. It is typical of the left-wing, bleeding-heart, milksop media that they try to make a big fuss about this case.

Some people say that the government should be concentrating on the foreign criminals or those who entered hiding in the back of a lorry, but it is not a case of either one or the other - we need to deport ALL those who should not be here.

As for the absurd claim that deporting him would breach his "right" to a family and private life, this is utter piffle. He can have a family and private life in Bangladesh - or indeed in any other country which allows him entry. He has no need, and certainly no right, to live in Britain. End of story.

- John Bull, London, 20/10/2008 01:56
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Oh some bleeding hearts are gonna love this one. Rules are rules and it will be difficult to plead asylum seeker. He's a grown man not from an E.U country he's got to go, it is really simple.

- Mike, London, 19/10/2008 23:31
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"If he is deported he will be almost impossible to replace, and 70 students will be deprived of their Bengali teaching."

Considering the performance of many schools in London, and the poor level of English spoken by a lot of children, I would have thought that teaching English is far more important than teaching Bengali.

There shouldn't be an exception to the immigration rules for this man. If he wants to settle here, he should go the the same procedure as any other immigrant.

- Richard, London, 17/10/2008 17:53
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Ab, London
Your outburst sounds nonsense. Immigrants or otherwise, they should speak English and stay in this country legally. If this person was born in this country of parents legally settled or acquired legal status, there is no problem. About the French football analogy. All of them are legal French citizens.

There was a case where a Scot with a thick Glaswegian accent was shifted from class room teaching in an English School to administration. The issue here first is the legal status of the individual. 'Exempt' status is not the same as stamping the passport with a message 'leave to remain in this county indefinitely' which is a permanent residency status.
This man is 28 years old and surely knows that he stayed in this country as a diplomat's son and when his father has left, his status changed. It is evident he did not ask the school to apply for a work permit, which is normally the case for a foreigner seeking the job, because he knows that he had to send his passport to the Home office and they would have turned it down.The school also should have known better.
I do not think that there is a case for this person to stay in this country.

- Ravi, Harrow, 17/10/2008 17:09
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Sandrina, London,
Try saying 'some French natives are awful' in Paris! We are by far the most tolerant country in the world and I am sorry to say that this government has made this country the soft touch for illegal immigration. The school should have checked this person's visa status with the Home Office before employing him.
Also, it was this person's responsibility to have checked his status before he applied for the job.
I am a teacher and in my experience Bengali children perform least well at the school. This is partly because, unlike the other minority children who speak Mandarin or Hindi, they come from a family where the parents stick to speaking in Bengali and actively seek to retain Bengali as a taught language in the school. Compare this to the parents who speak Mandarin or Hindi.
They want their children to learn ENGLISH and to be taught in ENGLISH. This applies to Vietnamese parents and children. Today, the best performing children from ethnic minority communities come from families of Indian and Chinese origin. That is a fact. We cannot allow the law to be flouted be that a school or an individual.

- Gavin, Hertfordshire, 17/10/2008 16:48
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let him stay

- Sarah Bonnell School, london, england, 17/10/2008 16:38
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I have overstayed which my solicitor has cheated me. I was not aware of that and they have removed me without allow me to take my belongings. I was locked up in the Police Cell for two days and didn't allow me to brush my teeth. It was like I have buried alive in the graveyard. I am a school governor appointed by local education authority. Also I am a committee member of several voluntary organizations. I had a degree and had a professional job. I have contributed most of my time to the society and I had more white friends than normal British people. But they have removed me like a prisoner. Britain is turning into a police state. Crooks are treated well in UK.

- Mj, Colombo, 17/10/2008 16:33
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I am a British citizen by naturalisation. My kids speak only English and we speak only English at home. I am a parent governor
and I support what Simon says. There are plenty of native French
people here who could do the job of teaching very well indeed. In our school, we teach French to kids and the lessons delivered in French and the meanings in English. I can see a few black (not Asian) students in the picture and surely the common language should be English as we are in an English-speaking country. I am sorry the argument of multiculturalism here does not wash for promoting Bengali, Urdu, Arabic or Hindi in the curriculum. One could be an ethnic minority person but the bottom line is he/she should learn the language of the country. It is time that we emphasised this aspect. Otherwise we will all be living in pockets of Ghetto feeling muslim, hindu, bengali, sikh first and British next and there lies the problem.
About the overstay. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. The law should applied in this case.

- Julian, LONDON, 17/10/2008 16:23
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QUOTED FROM JR, LONDON:

"Supposedly sitting GCSEs and unable to string a coherent sentence together?."

THIS is a PERFECT example of your STUPIDITY and LACK OF COMMON SENSE! Jr, London, since when has ANYONE been able to get away with putting a question mark and a full stop together?.<<(WHAT?. If you can do it I can do it too)
I advise you not to judge other people's ability to "string" together a sentence when one cannot do so themselves! HAHAAA! Also, I would like to inform you that the management of the school is of an EXCEEDINGLY high standard not that YOU would know. THUS keep your DIM-WITTED thoughts and comments to yourself.

Thank you.

- Khombol Kha, London, 17/10/2008 16:21
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Elli and Eileen - why you accuse people with differing opinions of racism? It's not a question of race and no one here has said he should go because of his skin colour. If he was a white man found guilty of illegal activities, who'd been teaching a language that's already spoken by the pupils involved but not mainstream outside any major British city, would you still be so keen for the authorities to waive the rules for him? There is bound to be a lot more to his story than meets the eye, but even if there isn't, being unaware that something you're doing is illegal is not grounds for getting you off the hook.

- Daniel Rapp, Hampton, Middlesex, 17/10/2008 16:20
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What part of obeying the law do the sorry apologists NOT understand?

- Ralph, GB, 17/10/2008 16:16
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Our country has become so much PC that we are not allowed to say what many of us think about the govt letting letting foriegners stay without a Visa I am commenting on with some knowledge about this person and his teaching. If he stayed in France and speaks french beautifully just like a frenchman, why can't he apply to go to back to France? We are desperately short of Maths and Science teachers whose vacancies are advertised outside this country yearly since the last 10 years. What is puzzling, why did the school not apply for work permit if his services are so much in demand? There is more to this case than meets the eye. He is an illegal immigrant now and the law should be applied..

- Simon, LONDON, 17/10/2008 16:02
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Most of the emails received and printed are from people with awful views. So many budding Hitlers out there it would seem, think of the life we all could live again with their beliefs, do they realize how shocking they are. Lets hope they use their next vote wisely and life is good to them !
At present the future does not look bright but after reading these comments I am even more concerned, and I am English.

- K.Driscoll, Kent UK., 17/10/2008 15:57
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I agree that Rizwana need to concentrate on the language of the country she is living in rather than French or Bengali. What ever happened to personal responsibility? He is a teacher why did he not check that he had the right to remain. Stratford use to be for poor whites now it is melting pot of poor people from wherever.That will explain the faces in the picture.

- Mary, Hornchurch, Essex, 17/10/2008 15:52
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"We were given 'exempt' visas which had no expiry date on them and we thought that we were here legally." Can any of the charming racists commenting here actually read? This man clearly thought he was here legitimately, and pursued a career that is key to the development and education of young people. Was this a selfish act? He's obviously a talented, hard working and dedicated teacher. But why let all that blind you to his apalling crime - having brown skin? The system is at fault here. I support his desire to stay and continue to do the most important job there is for everyone's future - teaching and inspiring young people.

- Ellie, Newham, London, 17/10/2008 14:56
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I am absolutely outraged by some of the racist remarks that have been allowed to appear on this website.

- Eileen, London, 17/10/2008 14:52
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Sometimes the government and judiciary can be so wrong as in this case of this Bengali teacher. The man has obvious contributions to the country, working and paying taxes as oppose to the many new EU immigrants who come here not to work but scrounge and commit crimes.

- George, london, uk, 17/10/2008 14:49
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No one appears to have looked at the wider picture here, the quote "immigration judges have rejected his claim as well as that of his parents and elder brother", immediately put me on my guard. My initial reaction was that he pays his taxes and if he is as good as he sounds then he should be allowed to stay . However, nothing is said about the rest of his family whom are all also illegal immigrants and the problem here seems to be that if he can stay then they would almost undoubtedly be allowed to under human rights law legislation. There are larger questions that need to be answered, are they claiming benefits? Who is paying for them? Do any of them have criminal records? I fail to see how anyone can make a snap judgement on this gent until all of the facts are known.

- Bob, Cheam, 17/10/2008 14:40
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And i thought it was a multi cultural country, well according to the comments on this article, most people are blatantly racist.

- Hafizur Rahman, Stratford, London, 17/10/2008 14:38
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Why is our Government using our hard earned taxes to teach kids Bengali? Look at the kids in that photo - talk about coals to Newcastle! They should concentrate on teaching them ENGLISH!

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 17/10/2008 14:29
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Sandrina is spot on, all the angry troublemakers are welcomed and given citizenship/free housing and many of the decent hardworking immigrants get the boot.

I get the distinct impression that our establishment have totally lost the plot.

Send some of the robbing whitetrash on aid projects to show them

- Gordon, UK, 17/10/2008 14:20
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And yet convicted murderers, and some wanted by authorities such as Yemen and Jordan for murder, are allowed to stay because of their "human rights". It's unbelievable the authorities pick on someone who is working and paying taxes, while leaving the scroungers and worse in situ.

- Ab, London, 17/10/2008 13:47
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I hate to point this out, but Rizwana Yazmin should be concentrating on improving her English. Supposedly sitting GCSEs and unable to string a coherent sentence together?. A perfect example what is wrong with the management of this school. What are the priorities of this head teacher? Improving education or supporting illegal immigrants?

- Jr, london, 17/10/2008 13:40
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We have a highly skilled individual who contributes to society and we are going to deport him. There is something wrong.

Simon, how do you know he has a bengali accent while speaking french. Lets put it clearly, you are a racist.

We live in a democracy and everyone has the right to appeal. I hope he wins this appeal.

- Paul Green, Lonfon, 17/10/2008 13:18
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Some of these comments like "Visa has expired, get him out, Simple." seem downright ignorant, narrow-minded and wicked! At first glance, this may be true but you need to examine all the facts first before a decision can be made. If for example, you are abroad in the US and you don't have medical insurance and then unfortunately you are run down by a motor car and critically injured, will the paramedics say "No medical insurance, don't treat him!" Of course not! The other comment about "French with a foreign accent and teaching Bengalis kids Bengali." Again so narrow-minded and racist in my view. When the colonial powers (England, France, Spain and the like) ruled the world for over four hundred years, did they renounce their colonial roots in terms of their language, dress, and mannerisms and decide to go the way of the indigenous peoples... of course not! So why should these people do so either? Yes they should learn English but by all means preserve their own language, culture and identity. Wake up and don't take the moral high ground please!

- Lee, Edgware, Middlesex, 17/10/2008 13:18
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Simon from London ! You are misjudging things.

I am French; Farhan lived in Paris for a number of years and his French and his accent were MUCH better than many of my colleagues in the PGCE. If only you knew the level of some of the language teachers ( because whatever the language you want to teach, you HAVE to teach French too) .. In particular some English natives are awful..

- Sandrina, London, 17/10/2008 12:59
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Simon,
French taught with a Bengali accent! what a load of cobbleurs? I suppose you have met Mr Zakaria and that wasnt just an ignorant presumption? And i suppose in your role as a governor you discourage anyone with an irish or scottish accent from teaching english? I hope the rest of the governors at your school arent so ignorant.

And learning from the French? Who pick and chose when it comes to ethnicity and religion? ban it from schools and education yet look at their entire NATIONAL football team - predominantly made up from immigrants and the sons of immigrants. What a load of hypocrasy.

And Jane you can get rid of all the immigrants you want legal or illegal, but there will still be unemployment because unfortunately you have to face facts that the indigenous population dont want to clean streets, clean hospitals, drive buses, be waiters and so an and so forth as its much easier on the dole.

- Ab, London, 17/10/2008 12:57
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I'm sure he's a lovely man, but he just isn't allowed in the country. That's not the criterion for staying here. "Sorry, m'lord, I'm a nice guy so let me off my parking fines and benefit fraud". I don't think it would wash.

He stayed here under false pretences, a clear breach of British law, and should therefore be asked to leave. It's sad for him as he clearly thought he could fool us, though he put himself in this position.

As for the school affected, they should probably have investigated him before they hired him, not complain when their own hiring procedures are found to be insufficient.

- Dj, london, 17/10/2008 12:38
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Just typical, this gentleman did NOT come in to UK in the back of a lorry,he is educated,pays his taxes he is teaching our children.
Why do they always pick on the easy targets to deport?????.
FOR SIMON... what is French in a BENGALI accent you ignorant person. Good luck Mr Zakaria wish you well sir. Annie

- Anne Chohan, croydon uk, 17/10/2008 12:33
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The head teacher and governors of Sarah Bonnell School should be fine for employing an illegal immigrant. He may be a very nice person, but that does not give him the right to remain in the UK. And the teacher in that picture who is demonstrating should be sacked!

- Anthony, London, W2, 17/10/2008 12:31
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Boo hoo, my heart bleeds

- Lb, London, 17/10/2008 12:22
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Every case has special circumstances, but no matter how nice you are the law must be followed. He is an educated man and I can not believe that he did not know how long his visa was valid for. We can not just admit everybody on the basis that they will work. This country is crowded enough and with the economy turning down there will be enough people legally in the country to fill vacancies.

- Mark, London, 17/10/2008 11:42
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Learning Bengali as a foreign language by Bengali children is not going to help integration. Offering Begali, Hindi and Arabic to children coming from these cultures is not the way forward. This person is from Bagladesh and his teaching of French is surprising as it will be taught with Bengali accent! As a school governor I discouraged attempts by children not concentrating on learning English and straying into their own ethnic languages in schools. In this respect we have a lot to learn from the French.
I am surprised this person was given work in the first place despite his visa status. These are illegal immigrants and the decision by the Immigration is correct.

- Simon, LONDON, 17/10/2008 10:16
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I have met Fahran when we both did a PGCE (in language, mine being French too) and he was a lovely well mannered young man and obviously wants to work and pay his taxes. Why does the home office always attack the wrong people, the ones who do not collect unemployement and contribute to the economy of the country?

- Sandrina, London, 17/10/2008 10:15
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No matter how settled this man has become he is an illegal immigrant with no right to be here. He has taken a British persons's job and must be deported. We are too soft on illegal immigrants, the country is over run with them whilst unemployment is at high levels. I agree with the judge, bye bye Mr Zakaria.

- Jane Bewick, London, 17/10/2008 10:04
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Does our futures mean anything to the person in charge of making a decision towards whether Mr Zakaria our skillful Bengali and French teacher remaining in the country?
I appreciate the circumstances but WE are the young students who have to suffer!It is out eduactions put on the line at a crucial stage in life as we are currently doing our GCSE's and i do not understand how we are meant to PASS without a teacher.He is an extremely talented, outgoing man who has made a great change to our school and my fellow students.He has also bought a lot to our school culturally and motivated us.Aren't we in need for teachers?Why should we deport teachers?Shouldnt we be deporting illegal immigrants who take advantages of the benifit systems!
Please look over this issue and let him stay so he can teach the girls at Sarah Bonnell.

Thankyou
Rizwana Yasmin

- Rizwana Yasmin, Stratford, London, 17/10/2008 09:54
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