HC asks to identify, repair vulnerable school buildings

The High Court today directed the authorities concerned to conduct a survey to identify the vulnerable buildings of primary and high schools and madrasas across the country and to repair the buildings in next three months to make those safe for students.

Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) secretary, and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) chief engineer and additional chief engineer have been asked to take steps to conduct the survey and to submit a report to the HC in three months after complying with the order.

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In response to a writ petition, the court also directed the authorities concerned of the government to make all the buildings of primary and high schools and madrasa safe, secured and education-friendly.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order following a writ petition filed by rights organisation Law and Life Foundation seeking necessary order.

The court fixed August 21 for passing further order on this issue.

The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain in four weeks why their inaction to make the school and madrasa buildings and their premises safe, secured and education-friendly should not be declared illegal.

During hearing of the petition, petitioner's lawyer Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab told the court that many school and madrasa buildings are reportedly vulnerable.

Students are concerned about their security as there are many vulnerable buildings and incidents are taking place due to damage of the roof of the buildings.  

Those buildings need to be repaired for ensuring the security of the student, he argued.