‘Doing more than ringing bell’

The duties of Harun-or-Rashid, bell ringer cum security guard of Barapusha Government Primary School in Tangail's Nagarpur upazila, are to perform few simple tasks including ringing the bell during schooltime and keep the institution under watch at the night.

However, besides performing his regular duties, he has worked hard to make the school more friendly and attractive to the students.

As a token of his love and affection to the school and students, he has given the institution a new look through some creative works.

Harun has done the works during the shutdown of the school for coronavirus outbreak.

He has written and painted different things-- alphabets, natural sceneries, important quotes regarding education, pictures of national memorial and shaheed minar--in and outside the school building and walls.

Apart from these, he has also constructed a concrete flower vase keeping the national flower water lily on the middle of it, drew a map of the country, created murals of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Shaheed Minar and National Memorial with board, and also made earthen statuette of different animals, including national animal tiger in the school premises.

He has also nurtured beautiful gardens in the premises and on the rooftop of the school building comprising fruits and flowers trees. In order to make the play corner of the school more vibrant and attractive for the students, he has added colourful playthings.

Harun has also decorated a room of the school with two corners. One is Bangabandhu corner with historical pictures of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other is a book corner for the students. The office room of the school has also got a new shape after getting his touch. 

Although the school remains shut for long for corona, many nearby students, children as well as local people come to see Harun's works and also spend some times there.

Harun, 25, son of a farmer of the village, said he loves the school so much as he also took primary education in it. Passing class VIII from another school, he took job at the primary school as bellman and security guard in 2014.

"I have known from the teachers that the students get more inspired if they get entertainment along with the education. However, there was no scope to play and amusement for them due to lack of necessary playground and entertainment facilities in the school surrounded by houses," Harun said. 

When the school was declared shut for coronavirus outbreak, Harun expressed his willingness to the headmaster for doing some decoration and beautification works in the school and the headmaster encouraged him.

"Actually, the headteacher has made it possible. No matter whether there was money in the school fund or not, he has provided the expenditure for the works immediately after I asked to him. The five other female teachers of the school also extended their supports to me," Harun said.   

Mohammad Aktaruzzaman, headmaster of the school, said Harun has been active to make the school beautiful since joining the job. "He is not only a good stuff of the school but also a man with good heart. We are very happy for his commendable works," he said.  

Meanwhile, students, teachers and employees of other nearby schools have been inspired after visiting or hearing the works of Harun. They also took plans to replicate Harun's work in their respective schools.

Commenting on the creative works of Harun, GM Fuad, assistant upazila education officer in Nagarpur, said none can do such beautiful works if not having a lot of love to the institution.

"Each of the works of Harun for the school shows his deep love to the institution," Fuad said adding that he has set up a unique example for all.