HC: Schoolbag's weight not more than 10% of kid's

The High Court on Wednesday said that the primary school kids cannot be forced to carry schoolbags that weigh more than 10% of their weight. Delivering a judgment in a writ petition, the High Court bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das made a previous rule issued on the matter absolute along with observations. The court directed the government to formulate necessary law within six months and asked to issue a circular with instructions for the English and Bangla medium junior schools within 30 days, which will be in effect till the law is formulated. The instructions, which will also have provisions of punishments in violation of the High Court directives, will be sent to all primary schools of the country. The court asked secretary of education ministry and director general of primary and mass education department to form a monitoring cell. It will take steps against the offenders. The apex court said that the act of forcing kids to carry heavy bags is cruelty and violation of human rights as it's harmful for their bodies. In August last year, the court, being moved by the writ petition had issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to formulate a specific law or regulation against carrying heavy schoolbags. SM Masud Hossain Dolon, one of three Supreme Court lawyers who moved the petition, said that the school authorities compel kids to carry heavy bags with a good number of books to the class everyday. It's huge burden for them and causes physical harms.