Mithun Paul, Galachipa (Patuakhali)

A contractor dug up soil in the dark of night to store sand for road construction in the school playground in Galachipa, Patuakhali. Students and guardians are fuming over this. In the face of strong protests, the contractor concerned was forced to stop the excavation work. However, the headmaster did not know about the excavation, and no permission was taken. The incident took place on Sunday (February 2) in the grounds of Ratnadi Taltoli Secondary School in the upazila.

It is learned that the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is implementing the carpeting work of Galachipa-Banyatoli road. The work order for this work has been received by Chittagong-based contracting company Yunus & Brothers. Under which Patuakhali contractor Firoz Ahmed is implementing the work. Currently, the sand filling work of the road was going on. On Sunday morning, the school students saw that the playground was being excavated with an excavator. Seeing this scene, they were furious and protested.

Obaidul Islam, a 10th grade student of the school, said, "When I came to school in the morning, I saw that our playground was being cut with an excavator. We quickly protested and informed the headmaster about the matter."

Guardian Mosharraf Hossain expressed his anger and said, "Ratnadi Taltoli Secondary School is a traditional institution. Hundreds of students play here every day. We demand exemplary punishment for the culprits for cutting and destroying the field."

Altaf Hossain, who is in charge of supervising the contractor's work, said in this regard, "The excavator driver accidentally dug the field. On the instructions of the contractor, we are quickly filling the field."

Headmaster of the school Md. Zakir Hossain said, "When I got the news in the morning, I came to the school and saw that a large part of the field had been cut. The contractor was immediately informed about the matter and they are filling the field again."

However, when an attempt was made to contact local contractor Firoz Ahmed, he hung up after being identified as a journalist.

UP member of Ward No. 8 of Ratnadi Taltoli Union Md. Hafizur Rahman said,
"This school is used as a polling station. The playground was important for the students. There is anger among the locals over its destruction."

UNO Mizanur Rahman said, "We will investigate who gave permission to dig up the school grounds. We will also investigate why the school principal did not inform me of the matter and take appropriate action."