Naked money-making trap in city schools: The unheard of readmission fees

Renowned Schools and Colleges in the city are making brisk business in the name of readmission fee every year taking advantage of the absence of any proper monitoring by the government in this regard.
Even the school authorities are increasing these fees every year in the name of session fee, development fee, examination fee, fee card, scout fee, ritual functions fee and so on.
Though most of the guardians of the city are middle class people, they have to bear such kind of extra expenditure.
On the other hand, school authorities said sufficient money was needed to ensure quality education, otherwise qualified teachers and logistic support is not possible to give.
The guardians of the students of two reputed educational institutions in the capital staged demonstration recently to press home their demand to reduce the extra charge.
Guardians of Ideal School and College (ISC) staged demonstration in front of the school gate in Motijheel on Sunday protesting the hike of session and tuition fees without prior notice.
Terming the decision “totally illogical”, they said it would become very difficult for many lower and middle-income group families to spend extra fees for their children.
The school authority fixed this year’s session fee at Tk 5,000 from last year’s Tk 3,200 while monthly tuition fee has been raised Tk 400 from Tk 300.
One of the guardians informed that admission fee at ISC are Tk 6,400 for brilliant students and Tk 4,400 for colony residents. Tk 31,400 is taken as donation for students who could not qualify in the admission tests.
‘Viqarunnisa Noon School and College charges Tk 25,540 as donation from students already in the merit list. Students not in the merit list have to pay Tk 35,000 to get into the school,’ a guardian said.
Monthly fees at Ideal school has been increased by 20 per cent. However, an official of ISC denied the increase in monthly fees. A senior teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Fatema Nasreen said that to retain the fame of the school and develop the educational atmosphere it is essential to increase readmission and others fees.
She also claimed that despite its name and fame, her school took minimum fees compared to other schools in the capital.
Referring to price hike of the essentials she said, it has become a big problem for her school.
About the teachers’ involvement in private coaching, she said as the teachers are paid low remunerations from the school some of them were compelled by circumstances to do it.
Nigar Sultana, a guardian of a student of the Viqarunnisa Noon School, said the guardians were planning to wage movement against hike of admission and other fees.
The authority called to hold a meeting with the guardians to solve this problem mutually, she added.
She also said her child, who is going to be readmitted in class four from class three, will have to pay Tk 4,320 from Tk 3,400.
The monthly fees of the students in junior, middle and senior classes of Monipur High school have also been raised in the beginning of this month. Although, the administration tried to raise the fees by Tk 100 in all these categories, protest from parents and criticism in national dailies led them to increase it by Tk 50.
‘But, we had to pay Tk 3,200 as admission fees this year, as against Tk 2,675 last year,’ a parent said.
Some parents also complained that the school administration did not provide any valid reason behind the sudden hike. When asked, Belayet Hossain Sikder, Headmaster (In charge) of the school said, ‘Ask the parents who complained to the press to come to me and I will tell them exactly why we have increased the fees.’
Monthly fees at the school section of ‘BCIC School and College’ has also been increased to Tk 350 from Tk 200. School management also increased admission fees from Tk 2,600 to Tk 5,600. Fees and other charges have been also increased, in a similar manner, at Udayan and many other reputed Bengali medium schools in Dhaka, according to parents.
According to a guardian, whose children are studying at the leading English medium schools, said rising of fees and other charges is a common phenomenon. Monthly fee at Maple Leaf is currently Tk 2,900 although it was Tk 2,500 in the 2005-2006 session.Aga Khan School, Dhaka (AKSD), another renowned English medium school, also increased its monthly fees to Tk 5,500 during this session.
‘The fee was Tk 5,200 during the 2004-2005 session. The school administration reasoned that the fees have been increased only by Tk 300. But in five years time, the fees increased by Tk 1,500 which is quite high.
A mother of a student of Aga Khan school said” though the school the school management has increased readmission and other fees abnormally, our income has remained almost static.”

Bangladesh Agriculture and Tourism

Bangladesh has a primarily agrarian economy. Agriculture is the single largest producing sector of the economy since it comprises about 30% of the country’s GDP and employs around 60% of the total labour force. The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like employment generation, poverty alleviation, human resources development and food security.
Most Bangladeshis earn their living from agriculture. Although rice and jute are the primary crops, wheat is assuming greater importance. Tea is grown in the northeast. Because of Bangladesh’s fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year in many areas. Due to a number of factors, Bangladesh’s labor-intensive agriculture has achieved steady increases in food grain production despite the often unfavorable weather conditions. These include better flood control and irrigation, a generally more efficient use of fertilizers, and the establishment of better distribution and rural credit networks. With 35.8 million metric tons produced in 2000, rice is Bangladesh’s principal crop. National sales of the classes of insecticide used on rice, including granular carbofuran, synthetic pyrethroids, and malathion exceeded 13,000 tons of formulated product in 2003 . The insecticides not only represent an environmental threat, but are a significant expenditure to poor rice farmers. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is working with various NGOs and international organizations to reduce insecticide use in rice .
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Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated areas of the world with a population of about 130 million. About 86.6% of the total population is Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians make up the rest of the population. Bangladesh offers the extremes of wildlife from the blue whale, which occasionally appears in the Bay of Bengal- and the Asian elephant to the tiny pigmy shrew, the smallest mammal. The bird life ranges from the showy peacock to the tiny sparrow and the talkative Mynas, while the reptile world has the king Cobra, one of the world’s most deadly snakes and the Python, one of the largest Top of the wildlife atractions are of course, the cats-from Royal Bengal Tigers and leopards to the small fishing cat
Tourists can enjoy easily because of the language. The state language and mother language is Bangla. English is widely spoken and understood.
In transport sector, Bangladesh is now very rich. Bangladesh can be reached by air from any part of the world. Biman Bangladesh Airlines connects Dhaka with 25 major cities of the world. It also operates in 8 domestic routes. Besides Biman international carriers also fly to and for from Dhaka. Private airlines also fly on the domestic routes.
Here is a good accommodation capacity also. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the national tourism organization, runs a number of modern hotels, motels and cotages throughout the country. There are also many private hotels that provide efficient service and competitive prices. Visitors can also take accommodation in rest houses belonging to different government departments and other agencies. Besides, Dhaka, Chitagong, and Cox’s Bazar have quite a few international standard hotels.
Bangladesh is also a land of very tasty food. Local and foreign foods are available hare. Western, Chinese. Thai, Japanese and Korean cuisinne are available in most standard restaurants and hotels in major cities. Local delicacies include a wide verity of curries, vegetable dishes, and meat and fish preparations such as Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Mosala roast, Muton, Chicken and Prawn are also popular. Most local restaurants serve a variety of rice preparations-Polao, Biriyani, Khinchuri-as well as substitutes such as Moglai and plain Parata, Naan Ruti, Chapati, which go well with curries. Sea fish and sweet water fish are available in most restaurants.
The locally taken hot drink known as Cha is the most popular drink. Tea produced in Bangladesh ranks among the best in the world. Coffee is served in most hotels and restaurants in cities. Among cold drinks, Lassi, a refreshing yoghurt drink is a popular summer time treat Soft drinks of most global brands are available everywhere in the country. Only big hotels and bars serve hard drinks. All bars are closed on Friday.
Besides, Misti Doi-sweetened yoghurt, Halua-a common dessert which comes in many shades from egg Halua to carrot, wheat cheese. Almond, Pistachio and so on. Sandesh-milk made dessert, Zarda-sweetened rice with nuts, Firni rice flower cooked in milk and sugar with flavouring, Rasogolla and Kalojam-two popular milk- based dessert (sweetmeat) made with sugar, flour and ghee. Rosho Malai-sweet floating in thick milk, Pitha-a common name for cakes or pasties-in varieties such as Chitoi, Dhupi, Puli, Bhapa, Pakan etc that are available throughout the country.
Among wide varieties of seasonal fruits of Bangladesh are Leechies, Mangoes, (king of fruits), Blackberries, Kanthals, Bananas, Jackfruits, Watermelons, Papaws, Pineapples, Coconuts and Oranges.
Places of historical interest: Dhaka
Dhaka founded in 1608 as the seat of the Imperial Moghuls victory over Bengal. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has grown from a placid litle town to a bustling city of close to 13 million people. Dhaka is the hub of most industrial and commercial activities in the country.
Suhrawardy Udyan (garden): Located at a stone’s throw from Dhaka Hotel and partly within the campus of Dhaka University, this udyan formerly a race course bears testimony to our historical struggle for Independence. It is here where the Commander of the occupation forces surrendered with 95,000 soldiers on 16 December in 1971.
Lalbagh Fort: The fort of Aurangzeb popularly known as the Lalbagh Fort was built in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam, son of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb, who was the Viceroy of Bengal.
Mosques: Dhaka is renowned as a city of Mosques. Among more than a couple of thousands of Mosques, the prominent ones are the Seven Domed Mosques (17th century), the Star mosque (18th century) and Baitul Mukkarram, national Mosque built in 1960’s.
Temples- Among the more prominent of the Hindu Temples are the Dhakeshwari Temple (11th century) and Ram Krishna Mission.
Churches- Dhaka has a number of old churches of which the Armenian Church (1781), St Marry’s Cathedral in Ramna and St Thomas’s Cathedral (1677) at Tejgaon are the most prominent
Shahid Minar- The graceful monument situated near the Dhaka Medical College Hospital commemorates the martyrs of the historical Language Movement of 1952.
A splendid piece of architecture, Banga Bhaban is the official residence of the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
National Museum- Housed in an impressive building at Shahbag, the Museum contains a large number of exhibits including sculpture, coins, paintings and inscriptions.
Ramna Green-Ramna Green is the largest park in the city with vast stretches of well-kept ground with a lake that cuts it into half. The park is also the venue for many national functions.
National Park- The National Park is situated at Rajendrapur, 40 km north of Dhaka in the magnificent Bhawal region along Dhaka-Mymenisngh highway. The vast 1600 acres of forested area is an ideal destination for eco-tourism).
National Mausoleum- Located at Savar, in the suburb of Dhaka city, the splendid memorial commemorates the Martyrs of the War of Independence in 1971. The sprawling campus of Jahangirnagar University is located nearby.
Memorial for the Martyrs of 1857 (Bahadur Shah Park)- The Memorial commemorates the martyrs of the first Liberation War (1857-59) against the British rule. It was here that rebel soldiers and their civilian compatriots were publicly hanged.
Muktijuddho Museum- Situated at Segun Bagicha, it possesses a rich collection of rare photographs of Liberation War and articles used by the freedom fighters.
Ahsan Manzil-Located at on the bank of River Buriganga in the old part of Dhaka. Ahsan Manzil is a reminder of the nation’s rich cultural heritage. The large mansion was built in the Victorian style with some elements of late Braque thrown in. It was the home of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Recently renovated and painted in bright pink, the mansion has been converted into a museum containing articles and utensils used by the Nawabs.
National Assembly Complex-The magnificent National Assembly complex building with ancillary traces was designed by the world renowned architect Luis Kahn and is considered one of the landmarks of modern architecture. Baldah Garden-Baldah Garden situated in the old 16 km away from Dhaka
Sonargaon-30 km to the south-east of Dhaka lies Sonargaon, an ancient capital of Bengal. It was the seat of Dev dynasty until the 13th century. From this period onward until the advent of the Moghuls Sonargaon was a subsidiary capital of the Sultanate of Bengal.
From all the aspects we are very proud to say that bangladesh is full of natural agricultural environment. but besides this we are not using this treasure with properly. If we can use our DESI product properly we can earn a lots of foriegn currenncy and also the country people could enjoy the DESI product.

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