Bitumen Burnt on Jhenaidah School Grounds, Toxic Fumes Affecting Children

District Correspondent

A contractor has occupied a school’s playground to carry out their work, engulfing the area in toxic fumes. This has severely disrupted the environment for both study and play for the children.

The playground of Moslem Uddin Secondary School in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila has turned into a dump for construction materials like bricks, sand, and stones. The school building is wrapped in polythene to shield students from the harmful black fumes emitted by the burning bitumen.

A visit to the site revealed that bricks, stones, and barrels of bitumen for road construction are being stored on the school grounds. Bitumen is being burnt right there, spreading harmful black smoke and ashes into classrooms and the surrounding area. This poses serious health risks to students and residents nearby.

The school’s teachers, students, parents, and locals have expressed their anger at the contractor’s actions.

Road construction work from Hamdah Stand in front of Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital to Narikelbari Bazaar began around four months ago. Construction materials for the project have been stored on the playground by the contractors.

Locals allege that influential figures in the area facilitated this by exerting their influence, allowing contractors Mithu Khan and Russell Ahmed to store materials and burn bitumen on the school grounds.

On Wednesday morning, the schoolyard in Kalicharanpur Union was found cluttered with construction materials, and bitumen burning was ongoing. The thick, toxic black smoke was disrupting classes and affecting students’ health. By 11:00 AM, the school authorities were forced to close for the day.

Students like Adori Islam Ara, Sadia Islam Tisha, Araf Ahmed, Shuvo, and Shamim expressed concern over the disruption, especially with exams approaching after Eid. They mentioned delayed receipt of textbooks, and now, the school environment is unfit for learning. Many students are suffering from severe coughing, eye irritation, and other illnesses.

The school playground is strewn with stones, making it impossible for students to play. Classes are being held with difficulty under makeshift measures like polythene coverings, and early dismissals have become routine.

Parents are demanding the immediate removal of construction materials from the school premises to restore a conducive learning environment.

Senior Assistant Teacher Mizanur Rahman stated, “We tried to convince the contractor to stop, but he did not listen. The entire playground is filled with materials. Toxic fumes have been entering classrooms for the past few days, causing breathing difficulties for students, prompting us to dismiss classes early.”

Headmaster Alibardi Biswas said, “I opposed the use of the playground for storing construction materials, but they went ahead anyway, ignoring my objections.”

Contractor Mithu Khan explained, “The road’s condition was dire. Local people and the school committee agreed to let us use the school grounds. Bitumen was burnt for just one or two days. We couldn’t find an open space due to paddy and other crops occupying nearby lands.”

Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila Executive Engineer Abul Kalam Azad said, “I am unaware if contractors Mithu Khan and Russell used the school playground for construction materials.”

Attempts to contact Jhenaidah District Secondary Education Officer Lutfar Rahman for comments were unsuccessful, as repeated calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.