A haat and a bazar have been forcibly set up on the school grounds at a village in Kaliganj upazila, Lalmonirhat, disrupting educational atmosphere and depriving students of their regular sports activities.

Teachers, students, and guardians said two educational institutions -- -- Shialkhowa Government Primary School and Shialkhowa School and College -- share the same campus in Shialkhowa village in Chalbala union of Kaliganj upazila.

The government primary school has 223 students, while 650 students are enrolled at the school and college. The shared playground spans approximately three acres. In addition, three kindergarten schools and a madrasa located nearby also use the same field for sports and recreation.

Since April 16, the lessee of Shialkhowa Haat has been setting up a market on the school grounds. The haat is held every Saturday and Wednesday, while the bazar occupies the grounds on remaining five days of the week, according to teachers and students.

Students said they had successfully removed the market from the school premises last year, which allowed them to resume sports and enjoy a proper learning environment. However, since April 16 this year, return of the haat has once again started disrupting the educational atmosphere, leaving them unable to engage in sports. They are now demanding a market-free school ground.

Kasem Ali, head teacher of Shialkhowa Government Primary School, said, "To protect educational atmosphere, the school grounds must be kept free of markets. It must be ensured that students can regularly practice sports. Haat-bazar are being set up on our school grounds, but we are unable to do anything. The educational atmosphere is being severely disrupted. We have informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of our demands."

Lalmonirhat District Education Officer, Mujibur Rahman, said that haats have been removed from many school grounds in the district, but some still remain.

"Educational environment is being disrupted in areas where haats are still set up on school grounds. The upazila administration will take steps to remove the haat from the school grounds at Shialkhowa village," he added.

Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jakiya Sultana said, "We have leased the nearby land for the haat. We did not lease the school grounds. Due to shortage of space, the lessee is setting up haat on the school field. In the past, this school ground was also used for haat."

Asked whether the haat would be removed from the school premises, she said, "A decision will be taken soon after a joint meeting with the haat lessee and school authorities."

Asadul Haque Hiru, lessee of Shialkhowa Haat, said the market has been held on the school grounds for many years due to a lack of adequate space. "Only last year, the haat was not held on the school premises because of local conflicts. About 95 percent of local people want the haat to be set up on school grounds. This haat is closely tied to the local economy," he said.

"I am setting up the market on school grounds based on a government lease and in accordance with the rules," he claimed.