Chandpur Horijon community children deprived of education in mother language

CHANDPUR, Feb 26: The Horijon community's children of Chandpur district town and in the seven upazilas of the district are gradually forgetting their mother tongue

for want of textbooks.

There are about five thousand families belonging to Horijon community in Chandpur district town. There are also one hundred and fifty other families in the seven upazilas of the district. At least five hundred children are attending primary, high schools and colleges from the community in Chandpur town.

Shadhona, a student of class four of Railway Scavengers Government Primary School said, "We cannot read and understand Bangla properly, but we have to study in Bangla".

Nimisha, another student of Class three of Government Primary School, said, "I can speak and communicate with others in Bangla. But I am not familiar with the alphabets."

She added, "It is difficult for us to continue studying due to lack of textbooks and teachers in our own language."

It is mentioned that Horijon community people have been living in three different places in Chandpur district town.

Bidhan Horijon, Horijon community's representative, said, "Nearly one hundred families live in Puranbazar Horijon Colony, some 100 families live in Horijon Colony beside Railway Boro Station and some five hundred families live together in Horijon Colony adjacent to Chandpur Municipal Bus Stand of the town".

He further added, "They have been living here since the birth of Pakistan. Most Horijons' family members are working as cleaners, sweepers, peons, etc".

He also said that with the passage of time, most of their children are going to primary, secondary schools and colleges to build their career. But children are facing difficulties to continue their studies as they have no textbooks or teachers in their own language.

Bidhan Horijon, a resident of Horijon Colony in the town, said, "It is their basic right to learn lessons in their mother tongue".

Jamader Horijon, another resident of Horijon Colony in the town, said, "Our children have a special Government Primary School named Railway Scavengers' Government Primary School beside their residential quarters near Chandpur Railway Boro Station".

Hafej Ahmed, a primary school teachers' leader, said, "They want textbooks in their mother language. They also demand quota in government jobs as they are permanently living in this country with voters ID cards".

Mostafa Kamal, another Primary school teacher leader, said, "They should not be deprived of their basic rights. Our constitution guarantees equal rights for all people".

District Primary Education Officer Md Shahabuddin said, "The government has already arranged separate textbooks for children of Chakma, Marma and other ethnic groups in Chattogram hill districts. It may also think over the matter so that as a ethnic group, Horijon community, can have their textbooks of their mother tongue".

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