Made to clean schoolyard, over 100 students fall sick

More than 100 students of a school at Shaturia in Manikganj fell sick after being forced to clean the schoolyard under the hot sun on Wednesday, reports UNB.

Locals informed that teachers of the Dorgram Bohumukhi High School asked their students to clean the schoolyard after they did PT there around 10 in the morning. At this time, when some students declined, the teachers caned some students. Then out of fear other students started cleaning the yard.

At one point, while following the teachers' instructions, suddenly 10 to 15 students lost consciousness and eventually over 100 students fell sick. Afterwards, they were admitted to Shaturia Upazila Health Complex and provided treatment.

Being agitated over the incident after news spread, guardians and students of the school put the headmaster's room under lock and key. Being informed, police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

Billal Hossain, a guardian, said that "All the students fell sick as the students were asked to clean the field amid severe hot weather".

Another guardian Mojibor Rahman said "The teachers resorted to inhuman behavior. There is no regulation to clean field in this way. Some students who declined to clean the field, were caned."

The guardians demanded punishment of the teachers for the misdeed.

M Siddiqur Rahman, headmaster of Dorgram Bohumukhi High School, over cell phone, said that "On many occasions the students clean dirt including pieces of paper. However, due to severe hot weather today, many of them fell sick." He claimed that the students were not forced to clean the yard.

Shaturia upazila education officer M Mohiuddin said that the incident is being investigated.

Mamunur Rashid, Shaturia upazila health and family welfare officer, said "The girl students fell sick following heat stroke due to severe hot weather and dehydration. They have been provided with necessary saline and medicine. The students are recovering from the illness gradually."