Classes suspended at two schools in Jamalpur due to election rallies

Jamalpur, 26 January: Two schools in Bakshiganj, Jamalpur, were forced to suspend classes on Monday morning due to an electoral rally organised by Islami Andolan Bangladesh on their grounds. The rally, amplified by high-volume loudspeakers, made it impossible for students to continue their lessons.

The event was held at the grounds of Bakshiganj Model Government Primary School and Bakshiganj Noor Mohammad High School, beginning in the late morning. The chief guest was Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, commonly known as the Charmonai Pir and Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

Teachers from both institutions reported that the sound from the microphones commenced around 11:30 a.m., immediately disrupting classes. “It became impossible to conduct even two consecutive periods,” said one teacher. The intense volume soon compelled students to leave the school premises entirely.

The rally was organised in support of Abdur Rouf Talukder, the “hand symbol” candidate for Jamalpur-1 (Bakshiganj-Dewanganj), under the coordination of the local branch of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

School authorities voiced concerns about the situation:

Mamunur Rashid, headmaster of Noor Mohammad High School, stated, “We received a request yesterday from Islami Andolan to use the school ground. After discussion with the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO), permission was granted. However, the microphones were switched on by 11:30 a.m., and the noise forced students to leave.”

Marzina Chowdhury, headmistress of Bakshiganj Model Government Primary School, added, “There’s nothing much to say. How can young children concentrate on their studies amid such noise?”

The local election coordinator for the Jamalpur-1 “hand symbol” campaign, Hamidul Islam, defended the decision, noting that “there are no government grounds elsewhere in the upazila. We organised the rally here with full administrative permission.”

Attempts to reach the Upazila Executive Officer and Abdul Hai, chairman of Noor Mohammad High School’s governing board, for comment were unsuccessful. District Administrator Mohammad Yusuf Ali confirmed that the assistant returning officer (UNO) had been instructed to review whether any electoral code of conduct had been breached.

Overview of Schools Affected

This incident has raised questions about the appropriateness of holding political gatherings on school premises during teaching hours, highlighting the tension between electoral activities and the right to uninterrupted education.