Stablished in 1870, the 155-year-old historical Santosh Janhvi High School in Tangail is on the verge of extinction.
The school, located in Tangail Sadar is not just an educational institution, it is also an architectural masterpiece. Built in British colonial period, the building is about 300 feet long, the walls are 22 inches thick, and the ceiling is 22 feet high. The most unique feature is that there are no windows in the design of this school; every window has been converted into a door. The air plays through 101 doors, and light enters - as if the natural environment is the real beauty of this school. This building does not need any electric lights or artificial lighting during the day.
However, today that historic building has become a death trap. Due to long-standing lack of renovation, cracks have appeared on the walls of the building, lime-zinc plaster is falling off the roof. When it rains, water enters the classrooms, and there is no place for students to sit. All in all, teaching is constantly going on amidst fear and uncertainty.
Head teacher Md Mia Chan said, "The original building from the time of establishment is still being used as the only building of the school. But now it is completely dilapidated. The science laboratory, computer lab, classrooms—all become unusable."
Nearly 1,500 students are attending classes every day facing risk. There is panic among teachers and parents, but the bigger issue is that if this school no longer survives, a piece of history will be lost.
Executive Engineer of the Department of Education and Engineering Md Ishtiaq Iqbal Himel said, “An application has been sent to the Department of Education and Engineering for the repair and renovation of the school.”
The local people have only one demand - that the school be completely renovated on an urgent basis before this tradition is lost.
