Schools: worst victims of Jamuna erosion

Of the affected institutions, Char Muradpur Government Primary School already shifted its tin-shed building on Tuesday, while locals and teachers of Mituani Government Primary School have prepared to shift their school as well.

Md Jahangir Firoz Chowhali upazila primary education officer

During an unlikely time, the Jamuna has swelled up and in turn devoured homesteads, croplands and schools in Chowhali upazila of Sirajganj in the last one week.

Already two primary schools went underwater in the last three days, while three more schools remain at risk of erosion. The schools under risk are currently being moved to different locations.

Md Jahangir Firoz, Chowhali upazila primary education officer, told this correspondent that two buildings, including the newly built two-storied building of Chandpur Government Primary School in Sodia Chandpur Union, submerged in the Jamuna on Tuesday night.

Earlier, a tin-shed establishment of Rehai Moucha Primary School in the same union got submerged.

"Of the affected institutions, Char Muradpur Government Primary School already shifted its tin-shed building on Tuesday, while locals and teachers of Mituani Government Primary School have prepared to shift their school as well," said Jahangir.

Tofazzal Hossain, a senior teacher at Char Mituani Government Primary School said, "The river is swelling fast with great intensity. We are trying hard to shift the school as soon as possible..."

"Ours is a school of around 200 students. Most of the students, along with the teachers, have stopped coming to school amid the looming threat of river erosion," he added.

However, Primary Education Officer Jahangir Firoz said the five erosion-hit schools have around 1,000 students, and efforts are on to keep the academic activities ongoing.

"We have already ordered the schools to hold classes in safe places so that the academic activities are not hampered," he said.

Chowhali UNO Afsana Yeasmin said this is an unlikely time for the river to swell. However, the Jamuna has swelled up in the last few days and the situation is growing increasingly serious at every turn.

"We have asked all the chairmen in the upazila to prepare a list of erosion victims," said the UNO.

Contacted, Milton Hossain, sub-divisional engineer of Sirajganj Water Development Board, said due to excessive rain in the upstream of the river in India, the Jamuna has seen an increased level of water.

"We have already taken urgent steps to protect erosion-hit areas," he said.