RANGPUR, Sept 18: Students are forced to attend classes amidst risk of accident in the derelict building of Uttar Rahimapur Nayahat Muktijoddha Government Primary School at Taraganj upazila in Rangpur district for long.
Sources said, the school building was declared abandoned more than two years ago after it developed cracks.
Some 200 students of the institution are attending classes in the rundown building due to lack of adequate space, they added.
Sources said the school was constructed in 1993. But presently it has become vulnerable owing to lack of any repair work. Cracks developed in its roof, beams, walls and floors.
Plasters from roof, walls and pillars of most of the rooms are flaking off, posing serious risk for both the teachers and students.
According to school sources the students cannot give attention to their lessons as plaster often come off from the ceiling. On many occasions the students and teachers narrowly escaped accident.
Aminul, a student of class four said they cannot concentrate on their lesson as the classes are taken in dilapidated building.
Locals alleged that substandard construction materials were used to build the school building which is the main reason for the dilapidated condition.
Some of the guardians expressed apprehension over the situation as it is severely hampering their children's studies.
"We are compelled to take classes in such risky building which has already been declared abandoned as we don't have adequate space to teach our students. Many students do not attend classes regularly. The number of students is on decline", said headmistress of the school Mousumi Akhter.
She said, they informed the matter to the authority concerned but are yet to get any response from them.
Upazila Education Officer Mostafizur Rahman said that they have already visited the school. Necessary steps will be taken in this regard, he added.
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