A headteacher has rented out a school field to store construction materials for an industrial plant, leaving the ground pitted and halting pupils’ games, parents and teachers allege. The authorities concerned say they will investigate the matter and take the necessary legal steps.
On a visit on Monday, the entire field of Nayapara Government Primary School in Sreepur, Gazipur, was found to be stacked with bricks, sand, rods, cement and other construction materials. Boundary-wall construction for an industrial plant was under way nearby. The movement of dump trucks across the field had left it pitted, and mud had made it unfit for games.
It is alleged that the headteacher, Shahanaj Begum, and her son Ratul are carrying out the factory’s boundary-wall work. The situation has caused anger among pupils and parents. Mariam, a pupil at the school, said: “For several days all games on our field have stopped. The whole field has turned to mud. They are ruining our field by keeping construction materials here. Bits of brick get under our feet and many pupils are getting hurt.” Another pupil, Alif, said: “We used to play football on the field almost every day, but for the past few days all games have stopped. They are completely ruining our playground. We want our field back the way it was.”
Md Sagar Hossain, who works at breaking up the construction materials, said: “Ratul, the son of headteacher Shahanaj Begum at Nayapara Government Primary School, made a contract with me for this work. The factory authorities rented this field to store construction materials. They brought us in to do the work, and we are doing it.”
Amir Hossain, an assistant teacher at Nayapara Government Primary School, said: “I came to school on Sunday and found the whole field stacked with bricks, sand and other construction materials. When I asked, the factory authorities said the headteacher and her son had given permission. After that, where else can we protest? All games for the pupils have stopped.”
Shahed Hasan Morsalin, general manager of Alma Fit Industries Limited, said: “The field was allotted with permission from the relevant office. The local school’s headteacher and a man named Monir Hossain have been given responsibility for the boundary-wall construction.”
Denying the allegation, Shahanaj Begum, headteacher of Nayapara Government Primary School, said: “I do not know anything about renting out the school field. I cannot say how they are keeping construction materials on the field.” Asked about the workers’ statement that she and her son Ratul had rented out the field, she declined to answer.
Sreepur Upazila Education Officer Fatema Nasrin said: “I have already been made aware of this. A headteacher cannot give anyone permission to store construction materials on the field. It will be investigated soon and the necessary steps taken.” Sreepur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nahid Bhuiyan said: “I have been informed about the construction materials being kept on the field. There is no scope to ruin a school field. The necessary legal steps will be taken soon.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report