The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

At least 110 educational institutions including high school, madrasa and primary schools have been partially or fully damaged by flood in five upazilas in Lalmonirhat district Of them, 22 were damaged fully and the rest partially, relevant sources said. District relief office including primary and secondary education office sources said most of the educational institutions are situated on the bank of the Teesta and Dharla or in shoal areas. River erosion and flood have caused an extensive damage to the institutions hampering educational activities to a great extent About 10 percent school, college and madrasas are now still under threat of river erosion and the authorities concerned are facing shortage of fund, said an education officer seeking anonymity. Most of the rooms and furniture of the institutions were damaged. In many cases, necessary documents were also washed away by floodwaters.

During a visit to the flood affected areas, this correspondent saw that many schools and madrasas have no trace of foundation at all.

Abinash Chandra, headmaster of Rajpur Junior High School in Sadar upazila said the school was established on one bigha of land with six tin shed rooms six years ago. Floodwaters have completely washed away the sheds. At present, the schools are running shortage of fund.

Shamsur Rahaman, headmaster of Gobordhan High School said the school was completely damaged by flood bringing educational activities to a standstill one and a half months ago. The school authorities are now looking for a safer place to rebuild the school. But, they need lots of money for the purpose. Earlier, the Teesta devoured the school four times and each time it was shifted to distant places.

Rahat Ali, headmaster of Sindurna registered primary school told that his school has already been damaged by Teesta river erosion in a week ago. Now there is no symbol of school at the venue. Over two hundred students are facing difficulty of their study.

Mawlana Habibur Rahaman, superintendent of Daliya Madrasha said, most of the part f his madrasha went into the womb of the Teesta river in a month resulting hampering education of 4 hundred students.

Harun, student of class eight, Monowara, student of class seven, Mim, student of class eight, Rahena, student of class six told this correspondent that they have been facing difficulty in their study as their school Char Bowal Mari high school has been devoured by the erosion of Dharla river in the last week. "Where we go, and where we get chance to study. Our parents are not rich men so we have nor able to go town for study. If our school not setup again our education would be finished from this stage."

Mohammad Azad, Lalmonirhat District Education Officer DEO said, it will not be possible to resume academic activities in the damaged institutions until and unless the government comes forward with adequate fund to rebuild those.