Tanvir Islam Kawsar, Moulvibazar
A school meal programme intended to ensure children’s nutrition has become a source of concern in several primary schools in Sreemangal, with sharp metal objects allegedly being found inside buns supplied to students.
In the latest incident, two long needles were allegedly found inside a bun given to a student of Kejurichhara Government Primary School in Rajghat Union on Thursday (September 10). Just two days earlier, a blade was allegedly found inside a bun given to a student of Tiprachhara Tea Garden Government Primary School in the same union.
The allegations have sparked concern and anger among parents. They have also alleged that food is not always supplied according to the prescribed schedule, with specific items sometimes missing and broken eggs and unripe bananas being supplied.
The programme, under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, is being implemented in Sreemangal and Kulaura upazilas. The Directorate of Primary Education and the World Food Programme (WFP) are jointly implementing it.
Around 22,000 students at 138 government primary schools in Sreemangal upazila and municipality are covered by the programme. Under the programme, students are supposed to receive nutritious food, including buns, boiled eggs, milk, biscuits and bananas, five days a week. Questions have now been raised over how far the guidelines are being followed at the field level, amid allegations of irregularities in food quality, supply and distribution.
According to the family of first-grader Priti Shukla Baidya of Kejurichhara Government Primary School, she brought home a bun from school on Thursday. When the packet was opened so that she could share it with her younger sister, two long needles were allegedly found in the middle of the bun.
Priti’s father, Kartik Baidya, said he had asked his children to check the buns before eating them after learning several days earlier about the alleged discovery of a blade in a bun at the nearby Tiprachhara school.
“When my daughter brought the bun home that day, I opened the packet myself and found an old needle and a new needle embedded in the bun,” he said. “If I had not opened the packet and my daughter had opened it herself, a major accident could have occurred. Such an incident involving children’s food cannot be accepted. I want a proper investigation and justice.”
The family said they informed local ward member Boishisto Goala and neighbours after discovering the needles. Later, the ward member and several local people took the bun to the school and complained to the teachers.
Tea worker Rabi Banerjee said he was present at the scene and saw the two needles inside the bun after the packet was opened. They later informed a local representative about the matter, he said.
Rama Rani Deb, head teacher of Kejurichhara Government Primary School, said, “I am on leave. However, the teachers at the school informed me about the matter, and I have notified the higher authorities.”
Earlier, on Monday (September 7), third-grader Imon had alleged that a sharp blade was found inside a bun at Tiprachhara Tea Garden Government Primary School in the same union.
Sudhan Bunajri, acting head teacher of the school, said, “The higher authorities have been informed so that the allegation can be investigated.”
However, representatives of contractor Messrs Islam Traders, responsible for supplying the food, denied the allegations.
Ahmed Babu, the Sreemangal representative of the contracting firm, said, “No one has yet informed us about the allegation concerning the bun at Kejurichhara School. We investigated the allegation of a blade being found in a bun at Tiprachhara School but found no truth in it.”
Sreemangal Upazila Primary Education Officer Md Rafiqul Islam said, “The head teacher of Kejurichhara School informed me today about the needles being found. The matter has been reported to the UNO and the contracting firm, and the project will also be informed in writing. We are investigating the allegation concerning the blade at Tiprachhara School. However, the contracting firm has claimed that as the buns are machine-made, it is not possible for such an object to be inside them.”
Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ziaur Rahman said, “The matter is being investigated seriously. If the incident is found to be true after a prompt investigation, strict legal and administrative action will be taken against those responsible.”
The repeated allegations of dangerous objects being found in food have spread on social media, triggering strong criticism and anxiety among parents. They have called for strict monitoring and regular supervision of the supplier to ensure food safety for the children. #EK
