Local residents in Pirojpur town have demanded the authorities to re-excavate the pond of Pirojpur Government High School, 11 years after it was filled up by local authorities.

Led by Anal Chandra Das, the then deputy commissioner of Pirojpur district, the century-old pond was filled up to expand the school's playground to accommodate space for arranging the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina's rally in 2013, ignoring protests from the local residents.

After the fall of Awami League government on August 5, former and present students of the school demanded the authorities concerned to re-excavate the pond.

Tarik Rana Chowdhury, a former student of the school, has sent an application in this regard to the senior secretary to the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education through Mohammad Ashraful Alam Khan, incumbent DC of Pirojpur.

Photo: KM Habibur Rahman/Star

"After the devastating cyclone Sidr lashed the southern districts in 2007, there was an acute crisis of drinking water in Pirojpur town as the damages to the power lines prompted suspension of the town's water supply for around two weeks. The pond served to mitigate the sufferings of the local people as it became the lone source of drinking water during this time as most of the ponds in the town have been filled up," Tarik said.

"Also, the pond was the major source of collecting water for firefighters during any fire incident in the town. For the welfare of the town's residents, it is necessary to re-excavate the pond. We expect the government to consider our demand," he added.

Contacted, DC Ashraful Alam Khan said the application has been forwarded to senior secretary to the Secondary and Higher Education Division, and steps will be taken in this regard as per instruction from the higher authorities.