Classrooms being used as guest house in Kuakata

An allegation has been raised that some classrooms of Kuakata Bangabandhu Secondary School in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district are being used as a guest house.

The school authorities regularly rent out a classroom under the name “Kuakata BB Guest House” to tourists.

According to local people, since the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, the number of tourists visiting Kuakata has increased. However, without following the rules, one of the school buildings has been converted into a guest house.

They allege that Kuakata Bangabandhu Secondary School has more than 900 students. The school charges an admission fee of Tk1,000-1,500, and students are also required to pay Tk1,500-2,000 for half-yearly and annual examinations. The school claims that this money is for various expenses such as electricity bills, internet bills, mosque subscriptions, coaching fees, and more.

Most of the parents of Kuakata Bangabandhu School students are fishermen and day laborers, and they are struggling to pay the extra fees imposed by the school.

They further allege that the school is engaged in a tourism business.

Dhaka Tribune

On Sunday night, Syed Mohammad Kawsar, the president of Kuakata Municipal Chhatra League's Ward No 8, and Tuhin Dewan, a leader of Municipal Krishok League, posted several pictures and videos on their Facebook accounts showing the guest house.

Following this, on Monday morning, Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jahangir Hossain visited the school and removed the signboard of 'BB Guest House'.

The UNO also cleared the bed and furniture from the school building.

The president of the school management committee has been instructed to investigate the matter and take necessary action.

Locals mentioned that a few years ago, Kuakata Bangabandhu Secondary School headmaster (Acting) Khalilur Rahman opened a nursery school in a tin shed building on the school premises, but it was eventually closed due to pressure from parents and locals.

Khalilur Rahman, the headmaster, stated that a total of four rooms in the school have been converted into guest houses. He mentioned that one room is occupied by the mathematics teacher, one by the English teacher, and the remaining two rooms are used for guests.

He further explained that since officials from the education department often visit Kuakata, sometimes the rooms are unavailable for them. Therefore, those rooms have been utilized as guest houses for the education department, but have never been rented out to the general public.