Keeping hundreds of school-kids hungry and waiting in queues for hours, Bagha upazila Awami League accorded a reception to new State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam in Rajshahi yesterday.
The kids were kept standing on both sides of the road directing to Bagha High School where the ceremony was held.
The kids starved and burnt under the sun while Rajshahi 6 (Bagha-Charghat) lawmaker Shahriar got a gold-made boat and coat pin from his fellows at the reception.
Local municipality Mayor Akkas Ali handed over the golden boat to the lawmaker and ward 8 Awami League President Kawser Hossain gave him the coat pin.
The state minister in reply requested his fellows not to give him such gift in future and declared that he would donate money (in comparison with the gifts’ monetary value) to a local handicaps’ organisation.
The ruling party men also constructed over 50 ornamental gates in Charghat and Bagha upazila sponsored by his fellows, education and business organisations.
The students who were kept standing said they were asked to attend their respective schools before noon and around 2:30pm they were taken to the venue.
“I came to my school having breakfast and teachers took us here before lunch time. They gave us nothing to eat,” said a sixth grader Sohrab Hossain of Harirampur High School.
Talking to this correspondent around 2pm, student of local Rahmatuallah Girls’ High School Sarmin Sultana, Sakil Ahmed echoed the same as Sohrab.
When the students were in queues, the state minister after Juma prayer went to upazila Awami League leader Azizul Alam’s residence.
He came to stage at 4:38pm to attend the occasion. Around 5:30pm, president of upazila unit Jubo League Babul Islam announced through loudspeaker that the children who were starving “can go back home.”
After the state minister arrived, students of Shishu Academy sang the national anthem. Later, on behalf of more than 500 people and organisations, he was given a bouquet.
