Market on school premises

Academic activities are being hampered in Durakuti Government Primary School at Durakuti village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila as a market is set up in front of the school on Saturday and Tuesday every week for the last two years.

Students said they cannot attend classes on those two days due to the huge crowd of people in front of the school. "Sometimes buyers keep purchased commodities on the veranda," they said, adding that they cannot even play in the ground.

Teacher said the students cannot concentrate on their lessons due to the disturbance caused by the huge crowd.

Guardian Anwarul Islam, 45, of the village said it has been a longstanding problem for the school, but the authorities concerned are keeping silent and not taking any action. "We requested the school authorities to take steps to free the school premises from the market, but no action has been taken yet," he added.

Trader Zillur Rahman of Karnapur village said, "The school premises becomes crowded with traders and buyers from noon."

Buyer Habibur Rahman of the town said they sometimes keep purchased commodities on the school veranda when it rains, but the school authorities never protested against it.

President of the School Managing Committee, also member of the Market Committee, Jonab Ali said the school premise is free from market now, but it was used as a market a few months ago. "Buyers and traders take shelter in the school veranda when it rains," he added.

Headmaster Mamtaz Begum said she is very much against having a market on the school premise. "The market was removed after we sent a notice to the market committee," she said. "If the market committee tries to use the school premise as market again, I will request the authorities concerned to take legal steps," she added.