No Shaheed Minar in 1,039 schools, out of 1,289, in Jashore
The main reason behind the lack of schools with Shaheed Minars is a glaring lack of funds, say district education officials
Only 250 schools, out of a total of 1,289, have their own Shaheed Minars, according to District Primary Education Office data.
The schools lacking a Shaheed Minar use banana plants or wood or soil to make one, or need to visit other schools that have the national monument to pay their respects on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day on 21 February.
As per Jashore Primary Education Office data, there are 250 primary schools in the Sadar upazila, 139 in Chowgachha, 131 in Jhikargacha, 158 in Keshobpur, 125 in Sharsha, 117 in Abhaynagar, 267 in Monirampur, and 102 in Bagharpara upazila.
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The Primary Education Office data also shows that out of the total 1,289 primary schools in the district, only 24 in Sadar upazila have their own Shaheed Minars, 8 in Chowgachha, 19 in Jhikargacha, 17 in Keshobpur, 24 in Sharsha, 53 in Abhaynagar, 85 in Monirampur, and 20 in Bagharpara upazila.
According to district education officials, the main reason behind the lack of schools with Shaheed Minars is a glaring lack of funds for constructing the monument at schools.
"Many schools do not have it as there is no government allocation for the construction of Shaheed Minar. All school authorities will be encouraged to raise money locally to build Shaheed Minar," Jashore Primary Education Officer Ashraful Alam said.
However, school authorities say it would not be possible to build Shaheed Minar by raising fund from locals.
Abdul Jabbar, headmaster of Dattapara Government Primary School in Dewara Union of Sadar upazila, said, "There is no allocation for the construction of Shaheed Minar. It is impossible to build one by raising thousands of taka locally. Government fund is a must in this regard."
Professor Amirul Alam Khan, former chairman of the Jashore Education Board, also opined the same.
"Primary schools run entirely on government funding. Therefore, the responsibility for building the Shaheed Minar lies entirely with the government. The Shaheed Minar should be built on government initiative," he said.
