Demand for reconsideration of political rally organization at Kushtia district school ground

Former and current students of Kushtia District School have demanded reconsideration of the initiative to organise a rally of the 11-party alliance on the school ground on October 31 next. They have sought the intervention of the district administration and school authorities to protect the educational environment, safety of students and tradition of the institution.

Protesters on behalf of the former and current students submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia and the headmaster of Kushtia Zila School on Monday (October 26).

The memorandum has said that Kushtia District School is a traditional institution linked with the history of education, tradition and social development of the district. If a large political rally is held on the school ground, there is a risk of the institution’s identity and reputation as a neutral educational campus being damaged.

The protesters have informed that their demand is not against any specific political party, alliance or ideology. Rather, they have made this demand from the principled position of keeping educational institutions outside the political programmes of all parties. According to them, educational campuses should be places for the cultivation of knowledge, morality, discipline and free thinking.

The memorandum has further said that if one political party or alliance is given the opportunity to hold a rally on the school ground, other parties and alliances may also demand the same opportunity in the future. This creates the risk of administrative complications, disputes and controversies over the use of the ground. To avoid such a situation, they have demanded the formulation of clear, written, neutral and equality-based guidelines regarding the use of grounds of educational institutions.

The protesters’ apprehension is that the gathering of a large number of people, pressure of vehicles and use of mikes and sound systems in a big political rally may disrupt the normal environment of the school. Alongside this, ensuring the protection of the ground and infrastructure is also urgent. They have also given importance to keeping the environment of regular teaching, sports and mental development of the students intact.

Three demands have been made in the memorandum. First, the decision to use the ground of Kushtia District School for the rally on October 31 has to be reconsidered. If permission has already been given, the matter of withdrawing it has to be considered.

Second, clear, neutral and equality-based guidelines have to be formulated regarding organising party political rallies and other political programmes on the grounds of Kushtia District School and other educational institutions. Third, necessary administrative measures have to be taken to protect the safety of students, educational environment and the tradition and reputation of the institution.

In the memorandum the protesters have said that even if there are political differences, there is a need for minimum consensus among all on the question of protecting the rights of students, educational environment and tradition of educational institutions. According to them, the demand to keep educational institutions outside political programmes is not an expression of adverse attitude towards any party; rather, it is an initiative to protect the proper environment of education and the individuality of the institution.

The protesters have expressed hope that the district administration will review the matter with importance considering the historical dignity of the school and the interests of the students.