Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has asked the education ministry to nationalise the Tindu Junior Secondary School, located in the remote Tindu area of Thanchi upazila in Bandarban district.
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced the decision in Parliament during the budget discussion on Sunday, saying he was conveying an instruction from prime minister.
“The prime minister has sent an instruction that the school in Tindu, Thanchi, should be nationalised. He has sent this note to Parliament today,” the minister said, adding that the process would be completed soon.
According to Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, the decision followed media reports highlighting the efforts of headmaster Bamong Khyang Minglen, who has been personally operating a motorised boat on holidays to generate income for the school.
He said that in March and April alone, Minglen earned Tk40,000 from running the boat service, of which Tk30,000 was spent on paying salaries of teachers at the institution.
“In such a remote hilly area, keeping a school running is a major challenge. The headmaster’s dedication is an inspiring example. After learning about the matter, the prime minister instructed the education minister that very night to take necessary steps to nationalise the school,” Rumon said.
Established in 2020, Tindu Junior Secondary School currently has 56 students. Located in a hard-to-reach area of Thanchi, the institution has struggled for years due to widespread poverty among local families, many of whom are unable to pay tuition fees regularly.
To sustain operations, headmaster Minglen operates a motorised boat along the Thanchi–Tindu–Remakri river route during holidays, carrying passengers and tourists. A significant portion of the income earned from this service is reportedly used to pay teachers’ salaries and maintain school activities.
