School playground to be filled up : Khaleda Zia’s promise being fulfilled after two decades in Tongibari
Md. Masum, Tongibari (Munshiganj)
Work has begun to fill the playground of Pura Durgacharan High School in Tongibari Upazila, Munshiganj.
Locals recall that nearly two decades ago, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia promised at a public meeting to raise the level of the field to match that of the adjacent road. After the field remained unfilled for so long, the school's alumni finally took the initiative to address the issue.
On Friday afternoon , sand was seen being dumped onto the school grounds to carry out the filling work.
Discussions with school authorities and concerned individuals revealed that the surrounding areas had been raised, blocking the drainage path for rainwater. Consequently, the field would become waterlogged every monsoon season, remaining submerged for about eight months of the year.
Prolonged water stagnation had effectively turned the field into a pond, severely limiting opportunities for students to use it for sports or other activities. Recently, following media reports highlighting the field's deplorable condition, the alumni took the initiative to fill it.
Md. Kamrul Hasan, the school's Acting Headmaster, said, "A long-held expectation is finally being met. Work on filling the school playground has commenced. Alumni took this initiative after the issue was reported in the media, and sand is already being deposited on the field."
Abdul Hamid, President of the school's Ad-hoc Committee, stated that the filling work began after consultations with the alumni association, and the project is moving forward with everyone's cooperation.
Khairul Kabir Kajol Haldar, President, School's Alumni Association, explained that they undertook the project because the field had turned into a water body. He noted that while the work began through their initiative, others are also extending their support. He expressed hope that with everyone's cooperation, the filling work could be completed quickly.
Those involved hope that once the filling work is finished, opportunities for sports and physical activities for the students will increase.
