Harijan kid allowed in class, finally

Schooling of a child from Harijan community has been saved, thanks to the intervention of the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Kulaura in Moulvibazar.

The kid from the underprivileged community started attending classes on Sunday.

His father on January 14 filed a written complaint with the UNO seeking his help as the kid, admitted to grade 1 at Agradut Child Care Homes in Kulaura, had been barred from joining classes the day before.

“My son was admitted to school on January 13 following proper procedures. I also arranged the school dress and books for him,” said the father.

“But shortly afterwards, the school authority told me that my son could not attend the class as we are from Harijan community,” he said in the complaint.

Nikhil Bardhan, headmaster of the school, told this correspondent, “We admitted the boy but parents of some other students made verbal objections after seeing the Harijan boy at the class.

“We had to pay heed to those parents’ objection as this school is run with their fees. We do not get any facilities from the government except free textbooks,” he said.

This correspondent tried to take versions of several guardians of students on the matter but they declined to talk.

“Education is a fundamental right of all and none can deprive anyone from it. After receiving the complaint, I instructed the school authorities to allow the boy to attend class,” UNO ATM Farhad Chowdhury told this correspondent.

“We are going to organise a meeting with the school authorities and guardians today [Tuesday] in to create awareness for overcoming such social stigma,” he said.