Madaripur school playground occupied, used for cultivation

One of the brothers of the former president of the Raipur Kacharikandi Government Primary School’s managing committee is cultivating paddy and banana in the school playground by allegedly occupying it. 

This is blocking the access of the students and teachers to the school located in Madaripur’s Kalkini upazila. 

The school started its journey in 1994. Back then, it was a community school. It was nationalised in 2018.

In 1994, Ismais Sardar and his wife Maymun Nesa, residents of Kalkini, deeded 22 decimals of land to the school authorities while his younger brother Monir Sardar donated 11 decimals.

Monir had served as the president of the school’s managing committee for a long time.

Recently, when he was removed from the position due to a lack of educational qualifications, his younger brother Akhter Sardar allegedly occupied the playground and started cultivating paddy and banana there.

Kalkini Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiful Islam said it is not permitted to cultivate anything in the school playground.

He said proper documents of the land had been sought from the landowner and the school authorities.

During a recent visit, this correspondent noticed that boundary walls were being erected around the playground.

Akhter said, “I am not doing anything on the portion of the land that belongs to the school authorities.”

Head Teacher and President of the school’s managing committee Sohrab Hossain said he had submitted a written complaint to the local education officer and the upazila nirbahi officer in this connection.

Kalkini upazila Primary Education Officer Badiuzzaman said he had received the headmaster’s complaint and had asked the upazila nirbahi officer to take necessary action.

Saiful said he had already taken necessary steps to stop the erection of boundary walls around the school playground.

He said necessary action would be taken after reviewing the land ownership documents.

Monir said he had submitted the documents of the 11 decimals of land he had donated to the school.

“What my brothers are doing on their portions of the land is none of my business,” he added.