Five Pupils Injured as Ceiling Fan Falls in School

At least five students were injured when a running ceiling fan detached and fell in a primary school classroom in Fatullah, Narayanganj. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 am on Wednesday, 6 May, at Aliganj Government Primary School.

Incident Overview

The accident took place during active lesson hours in the Year 2 (second grade) classroom. According to eyewitnesses, the electric ceiling fan suddenly became dislodged from its fixture and plummeted onto the seated students. While the central motor unit did not strike anyone directly on the head—a circumstance described by onlookers as fortunate—the rotating blades struck five children, causing various degrees of injury.

Two of the injured pupils have been identified as Pranjal and Jahanara, both students of Year 2. The identities of the remaining three students have not yet been confirmed. Following the incident, the injured were promptly evacuated from the classroom and provided with primary medical treatment at a local facility.

Witness Accounts and Structural Concerns

The incident was witnessed by former students who were visiting the premises at the time. Md. Mashiur Reza Sajib, an alumnus, reported that the fan fell almost immediately after he entered the classroom. He noted that had the heavy motor unit struck a child directly, the consequences could have been fatal.

Another alumnus, Abu Jafar, who was visiting at the invitation of the headteacher, highlighted the deteriorating state of the school infrastructure. He stated that the building is currently in a “dilapidated condition” and emphasised the urgent necessity for the construction of a new facility to ensure student safety.

Institutional Response

Mahmuda Ahmed, the Headteacher of Aliganj Government Primary School, confirmed the accident and attributed it to the age and poor condition of the school building. She clarified that the administration has already submitted formal applications to the relevant authorities requesting the construction of a new building, citing the current structure’s unfitness for continued use.

When questioned regarding the matter, the District Primary Education Officer of Narayanganj, Ferdousi Begum, stated that she had not been previously informed of the specific event. However, she assured that an inquiry would be conducted and necessary measures would be implemented following an official assessment.

Summary of Incident Details

Infrastructure and Safety Context

The Aliganj Government Primary School is a state-funded institution responsible for providing foundational education to children in the Fatullah area. Under the compulsory primary education framework in Bangladesh, the government is tasked with maintaining the safety and maintenance of such facilities. The reported dilapidation of the Aliganj facility points to a significant maintenance backlog.

Structural failures in older government school buildings often involve the degradation of iron hooks and ceiling plaster due to moisture and age, which can lead to the mechanical failure of heavy fixtures like ceiling fans. The school administration’s existing application for a new building indicates that the risks were known prior to this mechanical failure. Further investigation is expected to determine if negligence played a role in the lack of immediate repairs to the fan fixtures.