Get that tobacco out of here!

The long-running problem of drying and processing tobacco leaves on two school grounds in Lalmonirhat came to an end after a report was published in The Daily Star on Monday.

This has brought huge relief to around 500 students and 25 teachers of Durgapur High School and Durgapur Govt Primary School, under Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat.

After the report titled "School ground turns tobacco drying field" was published in The Daily Star, a High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman issued a suo moto rule and directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps in this regard.

Following the order, the local administration along with the teachers removed the tobacco leaves from the premises.

Yesterday, students of the two schools were seen playing on the ground.

"There is no tobacco, no stench of tobacco. We can all play on the school ground. We can now study properly in our classrooms," said Roksana Parveen, a class five student of Durgapur Government Primary School.

Razia Parveen, head teacher of the primary school, said they had tried hard to resolve the issue, but failed to do so.

"The school ground is unprotected as there is no boundary wall. If a wall is built, the school ground could be protected," she said.

Sahidul Islam, head teacher of Durgapur High School, said due to fund shortage it's not possible to build the wall right now. "We must keep an eye out so that tobacco cannot enter the school premises," he said.