Students of the educational institutions across the country, participating in the national mourning programme on Wednesday, expressed their deep shock and sorrow at the death of 44 fellow-students in Mirsharai.
Black flags were hoisted at schools and colleges across the country.
The students and teachers wore black badges, attended special prayer sessions and observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect, and many schools suspended their sports and cultural programmes.
Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, is expected to visit Mirsharai today to convey her condolences to the bereaved families.
The principal of Holy Cross School and College, Sister Shikha Gomez, said that they had recited prayers from different religious books at around 10:30am.
Students of Uttara Rajuk College, Uttara High School, Monipur High School, Motijheel Ideal School and College, Notre Dame College, Government Laboratory School and College, Dhaka Commerce College, BAF Shaheen College and Tejgaon College and of many other schools of the capital took parting in the mourning programme.
‘In addition to the national flag, we also hoisted a black flag. Students and teachers took part in the prayers wearing black badges. We also observed one minute of silence,’ added Sister Shika. Motijheel Ideal School and College observed one minute’s of silence as a mark of respect at 6:45am. The minute of silence was followed by special prayers. Everyone wore black badges and a black flag was hoisted.
The education ministry on Tuesday directed teachers, students, officials and staff of the nation’s schools to wear black badges and pray for the eternal peace of the departed souls, said an official hand-out.
The students, teachers and employees of all the educational institutions in Chittagong also mourned the death of the 44 students as part of the national mourning programme.
Mahbub Alam Chowdhury, principal of the Ispahani School and College, while addressing a commemoration rally said that the death of such a large number of children had broken their heart.
‘The deceased were not students of our schools, but we feel as if we have lost our own children,’ he said, and urged the students to be cautious on the roads.
Hashmat Jahan, headmistress of the DR Khastagir Girls’ High School, while addressing a commemoration assembly said that the tragic accident had deprived the country of future workers.
‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,’ she added.
Various student organizations brought out mourning processions, black flags were hoisted at different places on the Chittagong University campus and the students, teachers, officials and employees wore black badges.
A commemoration rally was also organized at the Abu Torab High School, which lost 35 of its students in the accident, with upazila chairman Giasuddin in the chair.
Several thousand people, including teachers and students of different schools, attended the rally. Many of the participants broke down in tears during the speeches delivered in remembrance of the deceased students.
The headmaster of the school, Zafar Sadek, told New Age that teachers from almost all the schools of Mirsharai as well as nearby Sitakunda visited their school in groups to express their sympathy.
‘We, the students and teachers, are still traumatised. Students still weep and continue to recollect memories of their friends who will never set foot in this school again,’ he said, adding that they needed several days to regain normalcy and resume classes.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, adviser to the former premier and leader of the opposition, told New Age that Khaleda would reach Mirsharai by road at noon, and would visit as many of the homes of the deceased as possible during the tour.
The 44 victims, mostly students of Abu Torab High School, Abu Torab Primary School and Abu Torab Fazil Madrassah, were returning on a truck after watching a football match at Mirsarai stadium on Monday, when the accident, due to the negligence of the helper who was driving, took place.
-With New Age input
