Schoolhouse faces collapse into pond
Alirbandor Government Primary School in Taltali upazila under Barguna faces the threat of collapse into an adjacent pond dug by a local influential person for fish cultivation.
Jahirul Haque Khan, alleged occupier of 78 decimals of land of the school set up on total 101 decimals of land, made the pond about eight years ago and started fish cultivation there.
The western portion of the one-story school building is about to collapse into the pond that has caused removal of earth there.
The main entrance of the school is also badly damaged due to erosion by the pond.
Md Altaf Hossain, headmaster of the school, and Md Hafizul Haq Sikder, chairman of the school managing committee, said Jahirul Haque made a pond for fish cultivation after forcibly occupying school land.
“We filed a civil suit with Barguna Second Sub-judge's Court. The case is under trial,” said Headmaster Altaf Hossain.
“We asked Jahirul Haque several times to take steps to protect the school building from erosion but in vain,” he added.
Md Hafijul Haq Sikder, chairman of the school managing committee, said, “It is sad that an illegal occupier has cut a pond to cultivate fish there, posing threat to the school building.”
Sanjib Kumar Talukder, sub-assistant engineer of Taltali Local Government Engineer Department, said the school building might collapse into the pond anytime.
Contacted, Jahirul Islam said, “It is my own land and I have done some earth filling work beside the building to protect it. I will fill up the earth again in the next dry season to save the school.”
Md Monirul Islam, Taltali upazila primary education officer, said he visited the school and found it in a highly vulnerable position due to erosion.
“We will take lawful step as per instruction from the court,” he said.
Hafsa Begum, a trader of Alirbandor, said a portion of Amtali-Taltali road is also damaged due to erosion by the pond.
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