Learning disrupted as market crops up on Lalmonirhat school playground again

“Students are losing focus in class because of the crowd noise and smell from the animals,” a teacher says

A makeshift market, locally known as a Haat, has engulfed the playground of Shialkhawa Government Primary School in Lalmonirhat's Kaliganj Upazila, severely hampering the learning environment and depriving children of a space to play.

Since Apr 16, the school’s 3-acre field has been occupied by a weekly livestock market that operates on Saturdays and Wednesdays. On the other days, a daily bazaar leaves no room for students to engage in sports or recreation.

Students and parents have raised concerns, warning that if the field remains occupied, it would shatter the dreams of many a young child.

Tania, a fourth-grader at the school, said: “I dream of becoming a footballer, but now we can’t play in the field. We came here to study, not to watch cattle markets.”

Rahul, a Class 10 student, added: “Without sports alongside studies, we’ll fall behind.”

When asked about the issue, headmaster Kashem Ali expressed helplessness. “To protect the educational environment, the field must be freed from encroaching market activities. Despite repeated requests, no action is being taken.”

The Shialkhawa Government Primary School and Shialkhawa High School and College share the same campus in the Upazila's Cholbola Union. The primary school has 223 students, while the high school and college have 650. The shared field, roughly 3 acres in size, is also used by three local kindergartens and a madrasa.

Next to the school field, a 58-decimal government-allotted shed serves as the official site for the Shialkhawa Haat. However, over time, the Haat has encroached on the school’s field.

The situation is dire. Vendors set up shop throughout the week, bringing livestock, bicycles, vegetables, tobacco, and poultry onto the school grounds, leaving the field unsuitable for play and disrupting classes with noise, crowding, and unpleasant odors.

Last year, after strong protests from parents and locals, the market was temporarily removed from the school field. Students finally had a peaceful environment to play and study. But the relief was shortlived.

Where once students were supposed to play, exercise, and enjoy fresh air, livestock and various goods -- from onions to poultry and tobacco -- are now being traded.

Schoolteacher Monindra Nath Ray said, “Students are losing focus in class because of all the noise and smell from the animals.”

Azizur Rahman, a local resident, added: “The market not only distracts children but also raises safety concerns. Scenes of animal slaughter, waste, and chaos can be traumatic for young minds.”

When asked about the issue, Kaliganj Upazila executive officer, or UNO, Zakia Sultana said: “Although the Haat itself has been leased out, the school field hasn’t. We’re looking for an alternative location. A meeting will be held soon with the school authorities and leaseholders to resolve the issue.”

District Education Officer Mujibur Rahman said, “Such situations cause serious harm to education. We’re treating the matter with utmost importance.”

Efforts to reach the leaseholder of the Haat, Asadul Haque Hirru, were unsuccessful as his phone remained switched off.