After a long shutdown of Covid-19 educational institutions are opened without exception, but the RamnagarPaschimpara Non-Government Primary School in Kushtia’sMirpurupazilais still closed. The reason is that paddy has been planted in the school field. The president of the school managing committee has declared that it is not possible to openschool without paddy harvest. The helpless teachers and students are silent.

Without disclosing their names, some teachers of the school said that the land of the school is registered in the name of the school. The children of the area used to play various sports in the school grounds.

They said according to rules, there is no chance to do anything in this field on anyone’s personal whim. Moreover, the school is in the process of being nationalized.

“But in one morning of the midst of Corona shutdown, the president of the school managing committee, RuhulAzam, suddenly dropped a power tiller on the school grounds to cultivate the field. RuhulAzam told the teachers that he would cultivate paddy in the field,” said a teacher who did not want to be named.

Since then, sports have been stopped in the field. Even after the long closure of Corona, the school could not be reopened properly due to paddy on the field. Another teacher said that there is no place for the students to stand to keep their foots even.

Ujjwal Hossain, headmaster (In-charge) of the school told that the president of the managing committee should tell why he has cultivated paddy in the school ground.

“I have no power to say anything,” he said.

He said that some (25/30) students have been brought today (Wednesday). The students do not want to come to school over the situation, he said.

Total 176 students are in the school.

Sheikh Askar Hossain, a guardian from Ramnagar village, said the president has done an extreme bad thing by closing the children’s playground in this way.

Asked about this, RuhulAzam told that paddy has been cultivated.

“Some money will come to the school fund. Its better where such large field was abandoned,” he said adding that paddy was planted as it was uncertain when the school will be opened.

He however, claimed the decision of paddy planting was taken with the consultation of the teachers.

He said it will continue like this. He said he was trying to bring students to school.

MirpurUpazila Primary Education Officer MasudRana said there was no chance to do such work in the field of educational institutions. He said action would be taken after investigating the matter.MirpurUpazilaNirbahi Officer (UNO) Lincoln Biswas said action would be taken against those involved in such activities.