Rusty bell rings again

For two long years, an eerie quiet hung over the schoolyard of Bawani Tea Garden Primary School in Habiganj's Nabiganj upazila. The bell that once rang every morning had gathered rust.

But on Sunday, the bell rang again -- and with it, laughter returned to the schoolyard.

The small school reopened through the initiative of local administration officials. It had been shut down two years ago due to ownership complications at Bawani Tea Garden.

With salaries and allowances remaining unpaid for months, the teachers gradually left. With no replacements, the classrooms fell silent.

For the children of more than a hundred tea worker families, the closure was devastating. Most of their parents earn daily wages, plucking leaves under the scorching sun, and sending their children to school had always been their only hope for a better future.

Habiganj Deputy Commissioner Md Faridur Rahman and Nabiganj UNO Md Ruhul Amin took the initiative to reopen the school.

They also appointed a temporary teacher to resume classes.

The reopening brought life back to the once-deserted school premises, now filled with children's laughter once again. Some students were seen eagerly flipping through new books, while parents looked on with tears of joy and gratitude.

Md Yamin Mia, the newly appointed teacher, said, "We are currently operating from 9:00am to 12:30pm due to the lack of basic facilities such as water and proper sanitation. As a result, we allow students to leave early."

"However, we are in the process of admitting students across various year groups. Today, we welcomed three new students," he added.

Sabuj Jhara, a fifth grader, said, "There hasn't been a school in our area for a long time. I studied at home for the past two years. It's really nice that the school has reopened. I come to school in the mornings, and it's great to see my friends again."

"Our children couldn't study for two years. Today, they've returned to their classrooms. This is a day of great happiness for us," said Rambhajan Robidas, a tea worker.

UNO Ruhul Amin said, "Efforts are underway to appoint permanent teachers."