Dormitory lies unused for 9yrs

There are bushes inside the boundary wall. The playground has almost become a jungle. Doors and windows are broken.

This is the picture of a hostel at Chelachara village in Kawkhali upazila, which has been lying useless since its construction nine years ago due to poor allocation of fund.

An official of Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) said in 2010-11 fiscal year, the three-storey hostel building was built at the initiative of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education at a cost of Tk 3.29 crore. It has eight rooms for 80 students and a kitchen, a dining room and separate living rooms for staffers.   

Five people were appointed as caretaker, nightguard, cook and sweeper in 2013, said a hostel official, adding that they are getting salaries regularly.

During a recent visit to the hostel, this correspondent found bushes inside the boundary wall and some doors and windows broken.

Villagers said when the hostel was being built, they were assured that children of remote areas would get education from there but it still lies useless due to lack of allocation for food.

Despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any initiative in this regard, they said. 

Santu Chakma, head cook of the hostel, said he is getting his salary regularly but there is no boarder in the hostel.

Ching Chai Thoyai Roaza, head teacher of Chelachhara Primary School, and also the superintendent of the hostel, said the hostel building has been lying abandoned for long. Many students from remote areas are communicating to come to the hostel.

District Primary Education Officer Muhammad Khorshed Alam said if the hostel building lies in such abandoned state for long, it will collapse one day.

"We can't start operation of the hostel as we are yet to get any allocation for food from the ministry," he said.

They have already informed the ministry concerned about the matter, said the education officer.