The playground of a primary school in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet remains under water for seven to eight months a year as the building of the educational institution has been set up on a wetland.

The children of the school have been deprived of playing for years.

Tilpara Government Primary School was built over a wetland next to Chandarpur road and near the Sylhet-Bianibazar road, leaving very little open space for the students to play.

Besides, a mosque has been built just in front of the school recently, obstructing sunlight from entering the classrooms.

Shopkeeper Moin Uddin told this correspondent that he passed Class V from the school in 2010. “I have seen from my childhood that the school ground goes under water for seven to eight months a year,” he added.

Moni Begum, a student of Class IV, said the school has been affected by flood triggered by heavy rain and the onrush of water from the hills.

Villager Abul Hasan said the students of the school attend classes like birds in a cage. As there is no scope for playing during tiffin hour, kids are sometimes reluctant to go to school, he added.

Acting headmaster Halima Begum said students cannot play in the ground as it is covered by floodwater.

Many guardians requested the authorities concerned to make playgrounds for the students. They pointed out that buildings are sometimes built on open spaces of most of the government primary schools to accommodate the increasing number of students, which leads to loss of open spaces.

Guardian Mosabbir Ali said a playground for the students can be built if Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid wants.

Upazila Assistant Primary Education Officer Md Masum Mia said like Tilpara Primary School four to five other school buildings in the upazila are used as flood shelter centre. The schools are constructed on the wetlands in the upazila.

Sylhet Primary Education Officer Nurul Islam said playgrounds are necessary in all primary schools for proper physical and mental growth of the students.