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<i>School shut as AL men occupy it for jatra</i>

16 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

Classes at Dhekuria Government Primary School in Kazipur upazila under the district have remained suspended since Thursday last as some local influential people arranged indecent dance and gambling in the name of jarta on the school premises. Locals said a group of Awami League leaders and activists led by a Maizbari union Chhatra League leader, arranged the jatra on the school premises through 'managing' local police and upazila administration. The unwanted activities are hampering school activities and leaving bad impact on a section of students and local youths, said several guardians and villagers. They said they urged the local administration including Kazipur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and officer-in-charge (OC) of Kazipur Police Station to take steps to stop the illegal activities, but to no effect. During a visit to the spot yesterday, this correspondent saw that jatra artistes were using some rooms of the school as their shelter while classes remained closed. “Ignoring our objection, local influential people arranged the jatra on the school premises,” Mariam Lovely, headmistress of the school, said. Kazipur Upazila Education Officer Kamruzzaman said, “The organisers arranged the jatra on the school premises without any approval from the authorities. I have asked the organisers to stop the activities immediately.” When contacted, Kazipur UNO Md Suratuzzaman said he asked the OC of Kazipur Police Station on Sunday to stop the jatra, indecent dance and gambling. The OC, Kazi Jahidul Hafiz, on the other hand, said he does not know the matter.