In Lalmonirhat's Char Gabardhan, volunteers go door to door to bring char children back to school

Bashundhara Shuvosangha has run an awareness campaign with parents in Char Gabardhan, in Mahishkhocha Union of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat, to secure the right to education for disadvantaged children. The programme was organised to bring children towards school, create an environment of regular study, and increase parents' sense of responsibility for education.

In the campaign, organised by the Aditmari upazila branch of Bashundhara Shuvosangha, volunteers made direct contact with the parents of more than fifty children. They went from house to house asking about the children's studies and spoke about sending the children to school regularly.

The volunteers explained to parents that the foundation of a child's education is laid in the family. Whether a child is going to school, whether they are attentive to their studies, and how their education is progressing all require regular attention from the family. Even a little encouragement, care and support can bring a positive change in a child's educational life, they pointed out.

The programme also highlighted the importance of continuing children's education despite family financial hardship and the many adversities of char life. In many char families, financial constraints carry a risk that children's schooling will stop midway, and the initiative aims to raise parental awareness to reduce that risk.

Taking part in the programme, Tanmoy Ahmed Nayan, adviser to the Lalmonirhat district branch of Bashundhara Shuvosangha, said education is a fundamental right of every child. The family's role in raising a child to be educated is the most important of all. Parents must become more aware, especially to secure educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in char areas. No child should be deprived of the light of education because of financial hardship or a hostile environment.

District branch president Jamal Hossain said children are the future of the coming days. Raising them properly is the responsibility of both family and society. Economic hardship or a hostile environment must not become an obstacle on a child's path to education. He urged parents to send their children to school regularly, keep track of their studies, and make them interested in learning.

Two parents who joined the campaign said they want their children to grow up educated and capable. Because of various limitations, it is often not possible to properly follow their children's studies. The Bashundhara Shuvosangha volunteers came to their homes and explained the importance of education, which encouraged them further, and they said they would try their best to keep their children's studies going.

The initiative of speaking directly with parents about the education of char children has, alongside creating awareness among local families, given them an opportunity to think afresh about their children's future.

Also present at the campaign were Mohammad Naim Rahman, general secretary of the Lalmonirhat district branch of Bashundhara Shuvosangha, publicity secretary Mahbub Rahman, and other members of the organisation.