Schools or public nuisance?
I would like to draw your attention to the following matters that deserve urgent attention of our relevant authorities. Although these have not yet grown out of proportions but they certainly have all the potential of becoming so, if our city planners do not pay any attention to them now. I am approaching you as I feel very encouraged by the awareness that you have created by your efforts in saving our rivers. Your endeavours have already won laurels for you and all of us can see that these are producing very good results. Our government has given full support to your efforts.
1. The matter relates to setting up of schools and other educational institutions within the residential areas in and around the Dhaka city. While establishing such schools, etc needs to be certainly encouraged, the manner in which these are then being run calls for attention of the government. At least an hour before the schools start, and then end, the transport system in the areas of the schools and of the surrounding areas should be observed. This would show how it runs to which the school authorities do not at all pay any attention. It creates terrible traffic jams on a daily basis during those hours that create havoc to the lives of those who live in residential houses in those areas. These houses also do have children who go to other schools - a daily activity that causes them a lot of problems, frustration and loss of time.
2. Of late, these schools have started the daily use of microphones in classes just when they are brought into session around 07:30 or 08:00am in utter and total disregard of their neighbours. Facing this onslaught on daily basis has become an intolerable event for those who fall in the senior age levels and, especially, who suffer from serious medical complications like high blood pressure, cardiac ailments, and are under post-operative convalescence, etc - apart from the fact that these onslaughts disturb the basic civic decorum and tranquillity in these areas.
3. A very disgusting thing that is also being noticed in these areas is that one or two makeshift shops are selling cigarettes, betel leaves and the likes. These normally attract the rickshaw pullers and other passers-by. The number of such shops has increased tremendously over the recent years and sometimes these are noticed well inside the boundaries of the houses. One wonders which authorities do permit and allow the establishment of such shops, or do the authorities keep their eyes closed and ignore them? Many unknown faces are noticed there that cannot be verified while they have an excellent excuse of standing and loitering around there. Who can guarantee that these persons are genuine and that they have a valid reason to be there in a residential area. This has led to frequent incidents of hijackings, thefts, robberies and similar other crimes in such areas. Putting up such small shops in the immediate vicinity of schools requires to be stopped as early as possible by taking strict measures in the way the government has taken bold steps to save our rivers.
I earnestly seek the urgent assistance of our appropriate authorities to take up the matter in all seriousness and impose necessary restrictions on the management of such schools - at least banning the use of microphones in such residential areas and ensuring that the sounds in classes remain confined to their physical boundaries.
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