Lalmonirhat, Oct. 5 -- In the remote char areas of Lalmonirhat where poverty, river erosion and long distances often make regular schooling difficult for children, a free school-feeding programme is drawing students back to classrooms and helping them stay attentive through the school day.

Teachers, students and guardians in the district's Patgram and Kaliganj upazilas said the programme has made a visible difference in school attendance, children's interest in learning and their ability to remain in classrooms for longer periods.

They are now calling for the pilot initiative to be expanded to primary schools across the country, particularly in disadvantaged and hard-to-reach areas.

The programme was introduced in 310 primary schools i...