2 bodies start probe

Two separate bodies, formed to investigate the death of a Class III student of PK Government Primary School in Barguna's Taltali upazila after chunks of ceiling plaster fell on her on Saturday, started their investigations yesterday.

Earlier on Sunday, Barguna district administration and primary and mass education ministry formed two separate committees to investigate the incident.

Barguna Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kabir Mahmud formed a five-member probe body headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General, ICT and Education) Mahbub Alam on Sunday.

Meanwhile, primary and mass education ministry formed another two-member committee, comprising of Directorate of Primary Education Director Saber Hossain and Deputy Secretary Mahbubur Rashid, and asked it to submit the report within three working days.

As part of their investigation, both the committees visited the spot yesterday and talked to the victim's family members, students, teachers, school managing committee members, locals and officials concerned, District Primary Education Officer (DPEO) in Barguna Mizanur Rahman said.

'I hope we will be able to submit the probe report within the stipulated time,” the DPEO said, adding that steps will be taken if anyone is found guilty in negligence of duty.

Nine-year-old Mansura, youngest among three daughters of Najir Hossain, was killed and at least 10 of her classmates were injured when chunks of plaster from the ceiling fell on them on Saturday.

Zakir Hossain, a member of the school managing committee, said the school was established in 1969.

In 2002, LGED built a one-storey building there and Setu Enterprise, a construction farm, was the contractor of the construction, he said,

But several cracks developed within a year of its construction, he said, adding that they informed the higher authorities about the matter before.