Rafiqul Islam, a tea-stall owner runs the 'Rafique Sonamoni Pathshala'- a primary school from the money he earned by selling tea at Thakur Palsa under Jhilim Union of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila.
Rafiqul Islam is the founder of the primary school. He is a tea-seller by profession. By earning money from selling tea to the customers, Rafique runs his Sonamoni Pathshala from 2010.
Lessons from class-1 to class-v are taught in this school. Six teachers- Farman Ali as the Head Master and Raosan Ara, Shasmun Nahar, Meghla Pandey, Fahmida Khatun and Nur Akhter Jahan work as Assistant Teachers in the school.
In 2021 Academic year a total of 135 students including 29 students in class I, 26 students in class-II, 30 students in class-III, 28 students in class IV and 22 students in class-V are studying in the school.
Aminul Islam Bulbul, a local resident, informed the school run by Rafique is an example for local moneyed-people that not money but only the will-power is required to do some welfare-oriented act for the society.
Zarif Hossain, Advisor of the school informed, the Primary school is run from the earnings of tea-sellers Rafique. He demanded the government pay attention to the school and nationalise it.
Rashidul Haque, Member of ward-9 Jhilim Union and President of the school committee informed, there are many children in the neighbouring villages who are waiting to be enrolled in schools. Rafique established the Sonamoni Pathsala aiming at those children who will get a chance to study in this school. He termed this as a great initiative. Rafiqul Islam, Founder of the school informed there is no other primary school within six-kilometre areas of Rafiqie Sonamoni Pathshala. It is very hard to operate the school by the earnings of selling tea. He appealed to the government to turn the institution to a government school.
On Monday morning, Sadar Upazila Assistant Education Officer Tasem Uddin and Upazila Assistant Education Officer Munira Rahman visited the school.
