Kids wade through dirty water to reach classes

School ground of Mathurapur-1 Government Primary School in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila has remained waterlogged for a couple of months as outlet for rain water got blocked following construction of a road on the eastern side of the ground. Photo: Star

The students and teachers of Mathurapur-1 Government Primary School have to wade through stagnant dirty water to get to the classrooms as the school ground remains under water for a couple of months during the rainy season.
Children often suffer from cold related diseases due to the situation.
The school, established on 1.11 acres of land in 1932, has been facing water logging problem for the last two years after a road was constructed on the eastern side of the ground that served as outlet of rain water earlier, school sources said.   
During a recent visit, this correspondent saw several children wading towards their classrooms through the stagnant water on the school ground.
It seemed there was no possibility to get the ground dry unless sunny weather prevails for several days.
"We face trouble due to stagnant water in the rainy season. We have to remain confined to the classrooms and cannot play in the field," said Sumi Akhter, a student of Class-V.             
Headmaster of the school Yasmin Pervin said, "We repeatedly requested local public representatives and the authorities concerned before the rainy season to solve the problem but to no effect."
Local people alleged that last year fiscal) local Awami League leader Ekramul Haque as the chairman of the committee formed to fill up the school field took sanction of two tonnes of wheat under Test Relief programme from the local lawmaker for the purpose but no work was done there.
Contacted, Ekramul Haque, law affairs secretary of Rahimanpur union Awami League, said, "Members of school managing committee and the headmaster know well where the project money had gone."