40 Sylhet schools suspend classes

Academic activities at 40 primary schools in Gowainghat and Jointapur upazilas of Sylhet have remained suspended for the last week as the institutions are still under floodwater.

Of them, 25 are in Gowainghat upazila.

Authorities suspended the first term examinations of 22 of the flooded schools, said Rafiqul Islam, education officer of the upazila.

Shah Mishbah-uz-Jaman, assistant education officer of Jointapur upazila, said 15 government primary schools have been affected by a flash flood triggered by heavy rain and the onrushing water from the hills.

Upazila education officers have been asked to submit reports on the affected schools as early as possible, said Md Nurul Islam, district education officer of Sylhet.

A flood control embankment collapsed yesterday morning, flooding 30 villages in the two upazilas, Water Development Board sources said, adding that over 50,000 people in the low-lying areas of the upazilas are marooned.

Boro rice and vegetables on over 3,000 hectares of land in the two upazilas have gone under water, said sources of the Department of Agricultural Extension in the district.