Staff Reporter:

Locals formed a human chain at Chowhali upazila headquarters in Sirajganj district on Wednesday demanding the re-inclusion of Chowhali, one of the most remote areas of the country, in the school feeding programme in primary education.

The programme was organized under the banner of Chowhali Upazila Shwartha Sangrakkhan Parishad.

Speakers at the human chain said that, Chowhali Upazila, located on the banks of the Jamuna River, has long been known as one of the most remote areas of the country in terms of geography and environment. The teachers, government officials and employees of the upazila receive “remote allowance”, which is clear from this how backward this region is? Although primary school students here have been under the school feeding program for a long time, the name of Chowhali Upazila has been omitted in the new notification issued recently, which the speakers also alleged is conspiratorial and inhumane.

They demanded cancellation of this notification and issue a new notification to include Chowhali. Otherwise, they also warned for a tougher movement in future.

Human rights activist and convener of the organization Advocate Shahidul Islam, member secretary Hannan Morshed Ratan, Md. Anis Sikder, Upazila BNP vice-president and Chhatra Dal leader Sanowar Sikder, among others, spoke at the human chain.