No primary schools in 2,839 villages across Bangladesh, Milon tells JS

Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today told parliament that 2,839 villages across the country do not have any primary schools.

Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Zainal Abdin, the minister presented the data during the question-answer session, which was tabled by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

According to the minister, the number of villages without primary schools stands at 717 in Dhaka Division, 818 in Chattogram Division, 355 in Rajshahi Division, 37 in Rangpur Division, 341 in Khulna Division, 45 in Barishal Division, 260 in Sylhet Division and 266 in Mymensingh Division.

Based on the data, a total of 276,516 children aged between 4 and 10 years, the primary school-going age, live in these villages.

Answering another question from MP Abdul Alim, the minister said the government plans to bring all Ebtedayee madrasas under Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facilities in phases, subject to meeting the required criteria.

He added that applications from 1,325 Ebtedayee madrasas seeking MPO inclusion are currently under consideration.