The seven schoolchildren who died in a tragic road accident in Chougachha upazila of Jessore on Saturday night were buried at their respective villages in Sharsha upazila of the district on Sunday.
A pall of gloom descended on entire Benapole with the arrival of the bodies of the schoolchildren in the locality.
Meanwhile, the Primary and Mass Education Ministry has decided to arrange special prayers in all primary schools across the country tomorrow (Monday) for salvation of the deceased seven schoolchildren, said an official handout.
The prayers are also aimed at seeking blessings of the Almighty for early recovery of the injured schoolchildren.
On the other hand, director general of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Shyamal Kanti Gosh visited Benapole on Sunday to console the bereaved families.
Besides, Benapole municipality also announced a three-day mourning programme. The national flag was hoisted half-mast in all educational institutions and business establishments in Sharsha to mourn the irreparable deaths.
The district administration declared a holiday in Sharsha upazila for today and formed a four-member probe panel headed by Jessore additional deputy commissioner to look into the road accident.
Earlier, the namaz-e-janaza of the deceased was held at Benapole Bold Field around 2 pm. People from all walks of life, including students of different educational institutions and local leaders of different political parties, attended the janaza.
The seven students of Benapole Primary Government School drowned and 40 others injured as a bus carrying the picnickers plunged into a pond at Jhautola in Chougachha upazila on Jessore-Meherpur Highway on Saturday night.
The deceased are Shanto, 6, Mithila, 7, Sabbir, 8, Suraiya, 8, Akil, 8, Shahanara, 9, and Akhi, 10.
The injured are now undergoing treatment at different local hospitals.
Talking to UNB, Syed Ali, father of Suraiya, demanded trial of those responsible for the accident.
Jessore deputy commissioner Mostafizur Rahman said they will provide financial assistance to the victims’ families.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman expressed deep shock at the deaths of the schoolchildren.
Source: UNBConnect
