Construction of a road along the western side of the only playground at Burichong Ananda Pilot Government High School in Burichong municipality, Cumilla, has triggered controversy. In a report published on July 28, local residents alleged that the roughly 8-to-9-foot-wide road was built to ease access to Cumilla-5 lawmaker Haji Jasim Uddin’s home. They said part of the century-old field had been occupied in the name of field development and walkway construction, reducing its usable area.

School sources said the head teacher applied to the education secretary on June 11 seeking permission for a walkway and boundary wall, but no approval or written response had been received by the time of reporting. Head teacher Aminul Islam said the school was unaware of where the municipality was building boundary structures or walkways. Locals also alleged that the walkway reduced space by 15 feet around the field.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Hossain said a decision was made after a meeting with conscious citizens. Haji Jasim Uddin said the walkway was built for people to walk around the field and that no harm had been done to it. Locals called for an investigation into the road’s legality, the field’s actual boundaries and compliance with government rules.