Students of Nachol Madhabpur High School in Chapainawabganj fear they have to suffer a lot in the coming days as the summer season is nearer.
The students, especially in summer, can neither concentrate on study nor feel comfort during school hours as their school has remained without electricity since its inception in 1994. No one knows when, if ever, they will get a power connection.
Many students return home after becoming sick after school hours. And for that reason, attendance of students remains thin from April to September as students do not feel like going to school.
Although the school, surprisingly, has got 12 fans, computers, laptops from District education office, there is no use for them for lack of electricity connection.
The country is now resounding with the aim of achieving digital Bangladesh by 2021. But the word “Digital Bangladesh” still remains a farce for these students since they cannot even turn on a computer.
Headmaster of the school Ataur Rahman said, “The authorities are not providing us electricity connection for lack of three poles.”
He said they had applied to the Rural Electrification Board (REB) several times to bring them under electrification, but the authorities did not pay heed to their demand.
An electrician of the REB set up cables in the school 10 years ago, but that is all the work that had been done so far, he said with frustration.
A few teams from both the education office and the REB visited the school several times, but no progress has been made.
During the 10th national parliamentary election and fourth phase of upazila polls, the authorities of the REB connected the school with electricity, but the connection was snapped the next day of the election.
When contacted, General Manager of Rural Electrification Board (REB) said, “I am going to USA. Steps will be taken after I come back to the country.”
Since its establishment in 2004, the school (from class VI-X) was listed for MPO (Monthly Pay Order). The number of students at the school is 300.
