Freedom fighter Abdul Aziz has opened an art school at a remote village where teachers teach children art and painting voluntarily.

There is no art school even at Magura district town.

Every Friday, about 200 children from nearby areas display their creativity at Mustafa Aziz Art School at Rawtana village, about 15 kilometres from the district town.

The school was established by Abdul Aziz in 1985 at a rented house after noted sketch artist Mustafa Aziz.

As the school faced financial crisis and Abdul Aziz could not pay the monthly rent, he shifted it to a tin-shed house on his own land in 2002.

Founder Aziz who acts as the 'headmaster' and nine other teachers do not take any salary.

School authorities offer tiffin to students and charge Tk 15 per month for this.

Aziz tries to give the teachers doles as 'bonus' on occasions like Eid and Puja.

The poor atmosphere can not dampen the spirit of students and teachers.

During a recent visit, most of the teachers and students were seen poorly dressed but they were lively.

"Childhood is the appropriate period to instill creativity and help them broaden their outlook", Abdul Aziz said. Our devotion is our success", he added.

A distinctive feature is that Pahela Baishak (Bangla New Year day), Independence Day, International Mother Language Day, Victory Day and such other national occasions are observed at the school with participation of students, teachers and villagers.

This has created a cultural atmosphere in the village. Some of the villagers this correspondent talked to said they are proud of the school.