Bitumen Plant Outside Faridpur School Sparks Toxic Health Crisis; Student Hospitalized

A bitumen-burning mixing plant installed directly in front of Keshabnagar Government Primary School has triggered a severe health crisis among students, forcing panicked parents to pull their children out of classes.

The machine, owned by a contractor renovating the Faridpur-Barisal highway, has been operating in the Gerda Union area for the past fortnight. The plant burns bitumen and mixes it with stone chips all day, blanketting the school premises in black, toxic smoke, dust, and deafening noise.

The situation took a critical turn on Wednesday when a fifth-grade student, Nadia Akhter, suddenly suffered severe respiratory distress inside her classroom and had to be rushed to the hospital by an ambulance. Following the incident, large numbers of guardians rushed to the school to withdraw their children, completely disrupting normal academic activities.

"The students cannot breathe or play in the fields, and the classrooms are constantly filled with toxic fumes," said the school's headmaster. "We have officially reported the crisis to the Upazila Primary Education Officer and local community leaders, but no action has been taken yet. If this continues, children will lose all interest in attending school."

Outraged parents stated they will refuse to send their children back to classes until the hazardous reactor is dismantled and relocated to a safe distance from the educational institution.