A concerning situation has emerged in Jessore, where students from 1,039 government primary schools are compelled to pay tribute to language martyrs using makeshift Shaheed Minars made of banana trees or soil due to the absence of permanent structures.
The district education office reports that Jessore has a total of 1,289 government primary schools across its eight upazilas. Notably, 250 government primary schools are situated in Sadar upazila, 139 in Chaugachha, 158 in Keshabpur, 125 in Sharsha, 117 in Abhaynagar, 267 in Manirampur, and 102 in Bagharpara upazilas.
Shockingly, only a handful of schools, namely eight in Chaugachha, 19 in Jhikargachha, 17 in Keshabpur, 24 in Sharsha, 53 in Abhaynagar, 85 in Manirampur, and 20 in Bagharpara upazila, have a dedicated Shaheed Minar.
District education office sources reveal that suggestions were given to establish Shaheed Minars at school premises, relying on funds collected from locals. However, teachers argue that it is challenging to gather sufficient funds locally, and the cost of establishing a Shaheed Minar requires several thousand takas, making it an impractical approach.
Prof Amirul Alam Khan, former chairman of Jessore education board, emphasizes that primary schools, being fully funded by the government, should be the sole responsibility of the government for constructing Shaheed Minars. He urges the government to take the initiative for building these essential structures.
Sadar Upazila Primary Education Officer Ismail Hossain acknowledges the significance of having a Shaheed Minar in every primary school but points out the lack of government allocation as a hindrance. He stresses the need for dedicated government funding to address this critical issue.
Ashraful Alam, the district primary education officer, suggests that school authorities should take measures to collect funds locally, emphasizing the unique historical context of Bangladesh where people sacrificed their lives for the language. He highlights the necessity of building Shaheed Minars to honor the language martyrs and calls for government intervention.