At one o’clock in the afternoon, padlock after padlock hangs heavy on the classroom doors of Chaurangi Mahavidyalaya in Kumarkhali upazila, Kushtia.
Right beside the main college building, a forest of bamboo poles has been driven into the ground, holding small and large cattle and goats as buyers and sellers bargain across the campus.
Under official government regulations, college classrooms are supposed to remain open and conduct classes from 10am to 4pm.
Yet, at this institution, academic routines are cast aside to make room for a livestock market twice a week, sparking widespread anger amongst students, guardians, and local residents.
Established in the year 2000, Chaurangi Mahavidyalaya currently caters to 48 students in the eleventh grade and 50 in the twelfth grade, supported by at least 30 teachers and employees.
While surrounding educational institutions conduct regular classes, all academic activities at this college remain suspended on market days.
To accommodate the trade, the college remains open on Saturdays instead of Sundays when an onion market takes over the field, while on Tuesdays, classes are wrapped up by 1pm to make way for the cattle market.
Local residents point out that setting up the market every Sunday and Tuesday openly defies official government directives.
Lal Mohammad, principal of Chaurangi Mahavidyalaya, acknowledged the disruption, explaining that the cattle market runs after 1pm on Tuesdays.
“The college is supposed to run from 10am to 4pm, but it is not happening due to the market,” he said, asking authorities to take action.
The market’s presence stems from a temporary three-month approval granted by the administration ahead of the last Eid-ul-Azha, following applications from local residents.
Although that temporary permit expired on 3 August, the market continues to occupy the campus field unabated. The presence of bamboo poles embedded across the field has also stripped local youth of their sporting ground.
Jibon, a local youth, recalled that young people used to gather on the field every afternoon for football and cricket, but sports have been entirely suspended for around seven months since the cattle market took over.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, several students said having market poles right next to the college building makes it impossible for proper classes to take place on market days.
Addressing the growing criticism, Alam Biswas, general secretary of Chaurangi Cattle Market, claimed that the college does not run after 1pm anyway.
He added that an application has been submitted to extend the market’s tenure, while land near the college is currently being prepared so that the market can be relocated very quickly.
Educational and administrative authorities have taken a firm stance on the matter. Md Najmul Haque, upazila secondary education officer, stressed that no government rule permits a college to close prior to 4pm, describing early closure as a serious offence.
He warned that legal action will be taken if a written complaint is lodged or if on-site proof is found. Meanwhile, Md Raisul Islam, Kumarkhali upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), conducted an on-site inspection to hear the accounts of those involved.
He said the parties have been instructed to present their documents the following day, promising that action will be taken if rules have been breached.
