30/12/2022
In Cumilla, a lover of nature constructs the nation's first environmental school.
Adampur village is reached by traveling directly north on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway from Daudkandi's Putia.
A suggestion of something special can be seen in the paved road that winds along the settlement, which is flanked by floodplains.
And before one has a chance to take in the picturesque rural scene in its entirety, they are met by a sign that is posted on a lowly one-story building.
The sign says, "Bangladesh Poribesh School."
Farmers, conservationists, environmentalists, students, and people from all walks of life come together at Bangladesh's sole environmental school to explore how to make Bangladesh a greener, more sustainable nation.
The three-roomed school was established in 2021 and was the idea of agriculturalist and environmentalist Matin Saikat. Matin Saikat said,
"I just started the
initiative. Now thousands of environmental
activists are working.
Explaining the role of the school, he said,
"This is an exception to what a school
usually means.
There are no regular
students or teachers here. There is no salary
or examination system. Many do not have
the opportunity to acquire formal education
in their lifetime and it is not possible for
everyone to acquire higher education. But
everyone is socially literate. That education
is put to use in this school. And it got a huge
response. School, college, madrasa teachers
and environmentalists sit in this school and
give various tips on the environment to
locals and students. "He worked for thirty years, and now the government has dug up the Kaladumur River again. He also made an effort to start nurseries and run programs for planting trees.
He raised awareness among the public about the need for wildlife reserves.
By offering irrigation amenities to three villages—Adampur, Putia, and Singula—for little Tk 200, he has set an example.
His efforts were not in vain. In honor of his efforts, Matin Saikat was awarded the National Environment Medal once and the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Medal twice.
Source: TBS
Read more- https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/nature-lover-builds-countrys-first-environment-school-cumilla-560210
