Trade fair, circus take over school

The ongoing circus show on Rangpur Zila School ground might delay the start of the school's next academic year. Photo: Rafique Sarker

Students of Rangpur Zila School might miss classes in the first couple of weeks of the next academic year since a trade fair and a circus are being held on the campus.
Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) organised the fair and circus.
The RCCI took permission from the district administration for organising the month-long trade fair from December 4, but it opened the fair on December 11. And it staged the circus later without permission.
The school authorities have expressed concern that they cannot start classes on the very first working day of next year (January 2) as per the education ministry's directive.
Contacted yesterday, Headmaster of the school Abu Noor Md Anisur Rahman Choudhury expressed doubts about taking classes amidst such a chaotic situation on the school ground and its vicinity.
He said the deputy commissioner had advised him to allow holding of the trade fair on the school ground from December 04 to January 04 next. “I agreed to this as academic activities remain suspended in December following annual examinations.”
The headmaster also said he had informed the district administration about the unauthorised holding of circus shows but no action has been taken in this regard as yet.
Another teacher said they could not organise annual sports of the school this time because of the fair on its ground. He wished not to be named.
The school has about 2,000 students, and it operates two shifts.
RCCI President Shanewaz Bablu, when contacted, claimed they have organised the fair and circus with permission from Deputy Commissioner BM Enamul Haque.
He also said they want to continue the fair up to January 20 if the district administration permits.
Asked about this, the DC said as the RCCI failed to adequately project local products through this fair (because it was not drawing enough visitors), and local people showed interest in amusements, he allowed staging of the circus alongside the fair.
Averting a direct reply to a question on possible delay in starting classes at the school, the DC said he would allow extension of time limit of the fair only if local people demand this.
Meanwhile, the district unit of Gono Forum organised a human chain in front of Rangpur Press Club yesterday protesting staging of circus on the school ground in the name of trade fair.