Two local activists of the ruling Awami League have allegedly been grabbing the land belonging to the Poisa Higher Secondary School and College in the Poisarhat area of the Agoiljhara upazila in Barisal.
The activists who are siblings have played music loudly during school hours, which disturbed the quiet and calm atmosphere of the school within which a public primary school is run.
On a visit to the school, this correspondent found that the Akbar Chowkidar and his brother Joynal Chowkidar, activists of Agoiljhara upazila unit AL, lived in a house beside the school and had also had cut down trees along the school boundary to erect an extra house, latrine and a barn.
It was learnt that Joynal is also a managing committee member of the school.
When asked, Mizanur Rahman, principal of Poisa Higher Secondary School and College, acknowledged that the land had been grabbed. He further said that a four-decimal piece of land adjacent to the school had been donated by local social workers, namely Anwar Hossain, Monachchher Hossain, Kawsar Hossain, Russel Hossain and Rina Begum.
However, the siblings have been using their political clout to grab the land and finally they have almost blocked the entrance of the institution, the principal went on.
Abdul Khalek Shikdar, founder and president of the managing committee, echoed the voice of the principal, saying the siblings’ ill move was very disheartening for them. They had already failed to recover some portion of the school land from the other influential people.
The school authorities on November 2 have complained to the local UNO, OC and upazila education officer seeking action.
In response, Agoiljhara police station ASI Paresh Chandra Shikdar visited the spot. When contacted, the ASI acknowledged the grabbing and termed the move of the activists very unfortunate.
A report, however, would be submitted after more investigation, the ASI continued.
Agoiljhara UNO Devi Chanda also acknowledged having receiving the complaint and assured that legal action would be taken after investigation.
Joynal Chowkidar however, denied the allegation hurled against him and he claimed that his forefathers donated the land to the school without proper measurement as per the document.
