Three Pabna edn instts closed due to trade fair
Teachers, parents anxious as final exams near
Organisers of 'Dublia Trade Fair' have set up a good number of stalls on the premises of Dublia High School and Dublia Primary School in Pabna Sadar upazila, forcing the authorities to suspend classes since October 18, much to the worry of teachers, students and guardians ahead of the final examinations.Photo: STAR
Classes of Dublia High School, Dublia Primary School and Haji Jasim Uddin College in Pabna Sadar upazila have remained closed for a week as the premises as well as verandas are being used for 'Dublia Trade Fair'. Teachers, students and guardians have expressed concern over the situation ahead of the school final examinations. Several influential people of the village, mostly belonging to the ruling party, have organised the traditional fair at Dublia in Pabna Sadar upazila and it started on October 18, sources said. Large canopies and a number of shops have been set up on the premises of the two schools and a college, forcing suspension of classes of the institutions for the last seven days. Although the fair organising committee took permission for seven days, it is likely to continue a few more days, sources said. “Dublia Trade Fair has a century-old tradition and several thousand people are involved with this fair. The visitors, mostly rural people, buy furniture and other things from this fair for very cheap prices,” said Md Raich Uddin Khan, secretary of Dublia Trade Fair organising committee, also secretary of Sadullahpur union unit of Awami League (AL). We have seven days permission for the fair but we are hopeful to continue it for more four or five days as there is a good response from people, Raich said. During a visit to the fair premises, this correspondent saw that 128 shops were set up on the premises of Dublia High School and Dublia Primary School while the circus team, lottery, restaurants and a few other shops were set up on Hazi Jasim Uddin College campus. "Study of the primary children are hampered as the classes have remained suspended for a week. The primary final examination is knocking at the door. We cannot give any satisfactory answer to the guardians. Even the Bangabandhu Cup Tournament cannot be held on the school ground due to the situation,” Nilufar Yasmin, the headmaster of Dublia Primary School said. “The fair organisers are involved in politics. We have requested them and informed the higher authorities,” she added. Md Anwar Hossain, headmaster of Dublia High School, said the classes of the school have remained suspended from October 18 due to holding of the fair on the school ground. "As the final examination is near, we have requested the fair organising committee to clear the makeshift structures to enable us to resume classes from Sunday.” He also said that huge amounts of money from the fair are expected to come to the fund of the educational institutions. When contacted, Pabna Sadar upazila parishad Chairman Mosharaf Hossain, also the president of Pabna Sadar upazila unit of AL, said on Sunday, "I have ordered the fair organising committee to open the educational institutions from today.” The fair organising committee sources had also said that the verandas of the schools would be cleared from Sunday (yesterday) so that classes can continue. When contacted, Additional District Magistrate of Pabna Md Jafar Ullah said, “When the administration gave the permission for fair we did not know that they would close the educational institutions.” During a visit to the fair spot, this correspondent saw that gambling and lottery were being held. The fair organising committee secretary, however, said they banned gambling in the fair.
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