Khaled Ahmed, Pabna: District Detective Branch (DB) police detained 10 students from a gaming centre in Pabna town on Thursday after finding them playing games during school hours, raising concerns over school absenteeism, excessive gaming among children and the need for stronger oversight of such establishments.The students were detained during a raid at G-X Arena, a gaming centre at Yakub Plaza, around 12:30pm. They were later taken home by their guardians after the guardians signed written undertakings, according to the information available.The incident has drawn attention to the growing popularity of commercial gaming centres among school-age children and questions about how these establishments manage underage customers during school hours.Local residents alleged that the centre, which opened on October 4, offers gaming facilities for Tk 300 for two hours and Tk 1,200 for an entire day. The availability of extended gaming sessions, combined with reclining or revolving chairs, has reportedly attracted children and teenagers who can spend long periods playing games.Residents expressed concern that students are visiting the centre while classes are in progress, potentially neglecting their studies and other daily activities.A particularly concerning account came from the family of 14-year-old Rudra, a resident of the South Raghobpur area. His family claimed that he had even stopped eating after being forbidden from playing games. According to them, he developed an intense attraction to gaming within a short period.The family's account highlights concerns about excessive gaming among children and the challenges parents may face in setting limits on screen time. However, the circumstances of the individual case have not been independently verified.Parents and local residents have questioned whether the gaming centre has adequate safeguards to verify customers' ages, discourage schoolchildren from entering during class hours and prevent excessively long gaming sessions.The availability of gaming packages lasting several hours or an entire day has also prompted questions about whether adequate measures are in place to protect young customers. Whether the establishment encouraged school absenteeism or violated any applicable rules remains to be determined by the relevant authorities.Excessive gaming can become a concern when it interferes with a child's education, sleep, physical activity and social relationships. Prolonged screen exposure may also cause eye strain. Parents are therefore concerned that unrestricted access to gaming facilities could affect children's overall well-being if appropriate limits are not maintained.The incident has raised a broader question: who should be held accountable if children are allowed to spend extended periods gaming at commercial establishments without adequate consideration of their age and educational responsibilities?While the DB police action resulted in the students being handed over to their guardians, residents believe that the underlying issues require further examination. They have called for scrutiny of the centre's operating practices, the hours during which students are admitted and the measures taken to safeguard children and teenagers.Simply detaining students and returning them to their families may not provide a lasting solution, observers say. Parents, schools, law enforcement agencies and gaming centre operators all have a role to play in ensuring that children do not routinely miss classes to engage in recreational activities.Authorities should determine whether the centre complies with applicable regulations and whether any additional safeguards are necessary. At the same time, parents and educational institutions can help by monitoring students' attendance, discussing responsible gaming habits and encouraging a healthy balance between recreation, study and physical activity.The incident in Pabna has brought the issue of children's access to commercial gaming facilities into sharper focus. Effective monitoring, enforcement of applicable rules and cooperation among families, schools and relevant authorities will be essential to protecting children's education, health and normal development.