Centenarian rebel’s protest against proposed demolition of school buildings earns kudos

Age cannot be any barrier at all if the pertinent individual has a definite cause. This is being proved once again by the centenarian revolutionary Binod Behari Chowdhury in the Chittagong district through his stormy protest against the proposed demolition of two historical school buildings of the region. These two school buildings happen to be most well-known girls' schools of Chittagong, Aparnacharan and Krishna Mumari Schools. It is to be noted that these school buildings make one commemorate the specimens of Pritilata Wadderar, one of the finest women revolutionaries in the anti-British struggle of the region.

Pritilata Wadderar was involved in the illustrious Chittagong episode of 1930s that not only rocked the foundation of the British imperial structure but also created an everlasting exemplar of self-sacrifice and devotion to the national cause.

The problem started owing to the arbitrary decision of Chittagong City Corporation to tear down the two historic school buildings to build multi-storeyed commercial buildings. Mr. Chowdhury was not ready to accept this insult even in this fag end of life and has become the initiator of a movement that has earned esteem from the citizens. He started the movement through beginning a token hunger strike in front of the school buildings recently and has been joined by leading citizens of the city and workers of different organizations.What has been the reaction of Chittagong City Corporation? Well, it seems that the organization is steadfast in its approach and this has become evident from a recent advertisement under the aegis of Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury. The advertisement stated, "Those who look to this great initiative in any other way than the development of an education-friendly modern complex for these two historic schools have taken a condemnable role to tarnish the successes of the Chittagong City Corporation." "This role is not desirable from any quarters interested in education. So I want to let you know with firmness that the proposed education-friendly complex will be built." Well, none is sure what will be the outcome but the persistence of the aged revolutionary who was also a comrade of slain Pritilata Wadderar has earned kudos across social echelons. It is worthwhile to mention that she was the first headmistress of Aparnacharan School.