Crore-taka school for visually impaired deserted to become a 'Ghost House'

A two-story building constructed to provide education and residential facilities for visually impaired children—at a cost of nearly one crore taka—has remained non-operational for over a decade. No regular academic activities are held there. There are no students. Neither are there any regular teachers or staff members. Left to decay, the building is now engulfed by dense thickets and overgrowth, giving it the eerie appearance of an abandoned "ghost house."

The facility, known as the "Integrated Visual Impairment Education Programme" building, is located adjacent to Sharatchandra Secondary School in the Banker Mor area of Ward No. 7, Karapara Union, under Bagerhat Sadar Upazila.

According to local sources and those connected to the project, the institution was established on land beside Sharatchandra Secondary School under an initiative of the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Department of Social Services to house and educate visually impaired children. Construction on the building began around 2012–2013.

Locals claim that the construction cost was roughly one crore taka, or possibly even more. However, officials from the relevant departments could not be reached for confirmation regarding the project's approved budget, the exact timeline of the construction, or the date of its formal inauguration.

A recent visit to the site revealed that the two-story structure is now surrounded by large trees, creepers, and thick bushes. Damp patches and moss cover the walls, while plaster is peeling off in multiple places. The doors and windows have also fallen into severe disrepair. Inside, various types of equipment and materials intended for use by visually impaired students remain stacked and unused. Due to prolonged neglect, these resources are also gradually deteriorating.

No regular officers or employees were found on the premises. Speaking with locals, it was learned that a cleaner named Nasrin Begum visits occasionally to tidy up the building before leaving. Other than her, no official staff members are seen there on a routine basis.

Hayat Uddin, a former union parishad (UP) member of Karapara Union, said, "This school was built for disabled children to live and study in. Initially, activities ran for a few days, and a guard was also appointed. But later, I stopped seeing anyone come here. Now the entire building has turned into a jungle. It pains me to see such a huge government asset being wasted like this. It urgently needs to be reopened."

Sumit, a former student of the adjacent Sharatchandra Secondary School, commented, "I studied in this school and graduated from here. But I never saw any regular students or people coming to the visually impaired school. Now the building is in a fragile, dilapidated condition. The essential equipment kept inside for disabled students is also getting ruined."

Another local resident, Mohan, said, "I have lived in this area for as long as I can remember, but I never really saw any visually impaired children studying at this school. Officials occasionally visit, stay for a little while, and then leave. Now, with all the trees and bushes, the entire place looks exactly like an abandoned house."

Locals have also expressed concern that the building, having been left deserted for so long, has become a haunt for drug users in the evening hours. This has raised serious anxiety over the environment and safety of the surrounding school premises.
Allegations of Nepotism and Neglect Surround Abandoned Facility

Some locals have raised allegations of influence peddling and nepotism involving the then school managing committee in the establishment of the facility. However, no official statement from the relevant authorities has been obtained regarding these accusations.

Lachchu Sheikh, a retired office assistant at Sharatchandra Secondary School, recounted that officials from the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Department of Social Services visited the school in 1981. Although activities for disabled students were initiated afterward, they did not last long. At one point, classes ran with a few students, but one of them—a female student—was unable to succeed in her SSC examinations.

He further explained that land was acquired from the school to establish the disabled school. Around 2012, the building was constructed at a cost of approximately one crore taka. However, since its completion, the building has remained virtually abandoned. For a short period, officials from the Social Services and Fisheries departments stayed there, but currently, no educational activities are being conducted. The valuable equipment stored inside the building is also deteriorating.

Asadul Kabir, a retired head teacher of Sharatchandra Secondary School, claimed that the school's land was registered in the name of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Social Services to establish the disabled school. He alleged that the nephew of the then managing committee president, Mustari Khatun, worked at a disability organization. According to him, it was at her request that the initiative to donate the school's land was taken.

He also stated that the construction budget for the building exceeded one crore taka. During construction, the school premises were used to house laborers. He further commented that the construction of the building had adversely affected the school's environment and playground.

M.M. Nazmul Shakib, the officer responsible for the visual impairment education programme, acknowledged that the school has had no students for a long time. According to him, he has not been able to enroll a single student since the school's inception. He pointed out that the school's distance from Bagerhat Sadar and poor road conditions create significant transportation difficulties for disabled students. Despite issuing notices to find students, none have come forward.

He further noted that allocations for night guards and other staff positions, which were supposed to be in place, no longer exist. The regular budget allocation that had been provided for the past three years has also been discontinued. With no students, the budget has been frozen. However, he said efforts are ongoing to reopen the school.

When contacted for details regarding the building's construction cost, the approved project budget, the timeline of construction, and the date of formal inauguration, the Bagerhat District Social Services Office could not provide specific information. Deputy Director Santosh Kumar Nath stated that he had no information on the matter.

Local residents have raised pertinent questions: every building constructed with government funds should display project costs, fiscal years, and contractor details for public transparency. However, no billboard or information plaque mentioning the project's cost, construction period, or fiscal year was found in front of the building.

Locals are asking—if such a large government facility built for the education and accommodation of visually impaired children is not being utilized, then where is the benefit of this crore-taka investment? If the building remains unused year after year, both the structure and the equipment inside will be completely ruined.

They are demanding immediate renovation of the building, along with the allocation of necessary staff and budget. At the same time, they urge authorities to identify visually impaired children in and around Bagerhat Sadar and arrange education and accommodation for them. They also call for the public disclosure of specific information regarding the project's construction cost, fiscal year, construction work, and budget allocations.