The distribution of rotten eggs and moldy bread to students at a government primary school in Gangni upazila, Meherpur, has raised serious questions about food quality control, oversight, and administrative accountability in the government’s school feeding program.
The incident occurred on July 1 at Banshbariya Government Primary School in Gangni municipality. The food was supplied by Sushilan, a Satkhira-based NGO contracted to provide meals under the program.
Instead of taking immediate action against the supplier, the upazila primary education office issued a show-cause notice to the school’s acting headteacher, Mazharul Islam. The decision drew criticism from teachers, parents, and local residents.
The school feeding program was launched on March 29 across 162 government primary schools in Gangni upazila, serving 18,347 students. The program distributes bread, bananas, eggs, milk, and biscuits on a rotating basis.
Multiple sources connected to schools in the upazila said complaints about substandard and unhygienic food had been raised since the program began, but no effective action was taken despite teachers informing authorities verbally on several occasions.
Parent Abdur Rahim said: “It is deeply unfortunate that instead of taking action against those responsible for risking children’s health, a headteacher was given a show-cause notice. This may encourage irregularities rather than ensuring accountability.”
Local residents called for an investigation into the entire food supply, storage, and quality control process, and demanded exemplary action against those responsible.
Upazila primary education officers declined to comment. A representative of the supplier, Sushilan NGO, did not answer multiple phone calls.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report