A human chain was held in front of the Gaibandha Theatre and Cultural Organization on Saturday noon, demanding the eviction of land grabbers from the Shaheed Shyamal-Mangal-Ramesh Memorial Primary School and its adjacent playground in Joypurpara, Gobindaganj upazila. The program was organized by the Gaibandha Adivasi-Bangali Solidarity Council.
The human chain was presided over by Advocate Sirajul Islam Babu, Convener of the Gaibandha Adivasi-Bangali Solidarity Council. Among others who spoke were Philemon Baskey, President of the Sahebganj-Bagdafarm Land Recovery Struggle Committee; Advocate Mohammad Ali Pramanik, Convener of the Gaibandha Environment Movement; Advocate Kushlashish Chakraborty, Advocate Faruk Kabir, Adivasi leaders British Soren, Luis Murmu, and Namita Tudu; teacher Priscilla Murmu; cultural activist Khondoker Nipon; Khilon Robidas, General Secretary of the Robidas Forum; labor leader Kazi Wadud, and guardians Pradip Tudu, Sharmin Mardi, and Olivia Hebrom.
Speakers said that the Shaheed Memorial School was re-established through the initiative of local indigenous people and well-wishers and has since become a vital center for children’s education and recreation. However, in recent times, Atauer Rahman Sabu and Abdur Rauf Babu, residents of Madarpur under Shapmara Union, have allegedly attempted to grab the school premises and the playground.
Locals and guardians accused the land grabbers of not only attempting to seize the playground but also damaging school furniture and tin fencing, breaking goalposts during playtime, and threatening and humiliating teachers. They further alleged that the two men are demanding extortion money and obstructing crop cultivation, even though the income from fish farming in the adjacent pond is used to fund the school’s operation.
Teachers, parents, and students informed the Gobindaganj UNO about the matter and submitted a memorandum on September 24, 2025, seeking protection. However, no effective measures have yet been taken to ensure the security of the school and playground.
