Historic building at Gouripur school lies abandoned

GOURIPUR, MYMENSINGH, Oct 20:  A century-old red building of Gouripur RK Government High School in Mymensingh, once the centre of academic activities, is deteriorating due to prolonged neglect after classes were shifted to a new building.

The school was established in 1911 by Gouripur zamindar Brajendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury in memory of his father, Rajendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury. He donated 11.66 acres of land and built a long, attractive red-coloured building in an English U-shaped design.

The campus also included a large playground and a huge pond known as Ananta Sagar Dighi. Teachers' quarters and another pond were also built on the premises.

The school was nationalised in 1997, when 10.62 acres of land were registered in the name of the Ministry of Education. New buildings were gradually constructed, and academic activities were eventually shifted to a new six-storey building.

The historic red building was then left unused.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found the long veranda deserted. Several classroom doors and windows were broken, plaster had peeled off parts of the walls, and dust and broken materials covered the floors.

Teachers said rainwater leaks through the roof, causing further damage.

Teachers and former students said the abandoned building has become vulnerable to outsiders and alleged drug use and other antisocial activities there.

They suggested introducing a double-shift system so the old building could be used again without requiring additional manpower or separate maintenance.

Mohammad Badrul Alam, Acting Assistant Head-teacher and a former student, said doors and windows had been broken at different times and fans, electrical wires, lights and a submersible pump had been taken away. Wires connected to CCTV cameras were also removed.

“Rainwater is damaging different parts of the building. It is not safe to resume classes there in its current condition,” he said.

Acting Head-teacher Rubia Khatun Nipa said the school authorities were concerned about security at the old campus.

“We informed the police station in writing and requested patrols several days a week to prevent outsiders from entering,” she said. “We have also contacted the Education Engineering Department and other relevant offices.”

Officer-in-Charge of Gouripur Police Station Habibur Rahman said he had not received any written complaint about the matter. Police regularly visit the area and keep an eye on the old rooms, he added.

The school is also facing a shortage of support staff. Of the eight sanctioned employee posts, seven are vacant, while the only government employee is scheduled to retire in November. The school is managing the situation by hiring a temporary night guard and a computer operator.
Of the 17 sanctioned teacher posts, 16 are currently filled.

Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Acting Deputy Director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Mymensingh region, said a list of vacant posts had been sent to Dhaka for appointment, but no postings had yet been made.

Meanwhile, Russell Mia, Executive Engineer of the Education Engineering Department in Mymensingh, said a tender process was underway for renovation work costing around Tk 5 lakh on another old building used as an examination hall.

He said the proposed work was not for the main red building. He would provide details about its condition after inspecting the structure and verifying relevant information.

Afia Amin Pappa, Gouripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said the school was under the education department, so the upazila administration could not allocate funds from its own budget specifically for renovation.

However, she said the school authorities, administration, education department and other stakeholders could work together to find a solution.

District Education Officer Mohchhina Khatun said necessary measures regarding dilapidated school buildings should be taken through the institution's head and the relevant upazila-level committee.