At Karail slum, a large crowd gathered around the remains of a single building, with many children standing quietly nearby. A closer look revealed that the structure had been a school named Mayer Doa Bidya Niketan and High School.
The devastating fire on Tuesday reduced the school’s third floor to ashes, creating uncertainty over students’ lessons and upcoming exams, and leaving them without a proper place to study.
Established privately several years ago, the school serves students from playgroup to class ten, almost all of whom come from the slum’s low-income families.
Shila Akhter, mother of class 5 student Rifat Hawlader, said her son had already completed one exam. “Three subjects were left, but now all his books have burned,” she said. She added that the family escaped with nothing but the clothes on their bodies. “We couldn’t save a single item from our home. Even my daughter’s schoolbooks were burned to ashes. I don’t know how she will sit for her exams now. I don’t even know how we will survive or manage food in the coming days.”
“Because of the damage, all school activities will remain suspended for now,” said Md Monir Hossain, Head Teacher of Mayer Doa School. “Exams will be postponed, but no new date has been set yet.”
The fire destroyed textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials belonging to a large number of students. According to the school authorities, the institution has around 420 enrolled students, including 30 SSC candidates.
“We’ll try to arrange books from wherever we can,” the headteacher said. “If necessary, we will seek support from the thana teacher association or the Upazila Secondary Education Office.”
Across Karail, there are about 16 schools and three to four madrasas, serving an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 children under the age of 18. The slum’s total population is believed to be between 150,000 and 200,000—significantly higher than official figures, according to locals.
The disruption has left many students devastated ahead of their annual exams and SSC preparations.
Maruf, a class 10 student of Mayer Doa School, said his test exam was scheduled for November 27. “Our school is damaged, my books are gone. I don’t know whether the exam will take place. I am very worried,” he said.
Mohammad Asif, another SSC candidate, said he recently spent Tk 10,000 to purchase textbooks. “All of them burned. I couldn’t save a single item,” he said.
Nishi Akther, a student at Mayer Doa Bidya Niketan and High School, said her exam was scheduled for December 4. “All my books burned with our home. I don’t know how I will sit for the exam,” she said.
Ismail Hawlader, a class 6 student at Adarsha Nagar Kinder Garden and High School, said his exams begin on December 2. “Everything is gone. How will I study now?” he asked.
