17 Sylhet schools shut for flood

Academic activities at 17 primary schools in Guainghat and Jaintapur upazilas of Sylhet have remained suspended as the institutions are still under floodwater.

Of the schools, 15 are in Guainghat, said Upazila Education Officer Rafiqul Islam.

The institutions include Haidor Government Primary School, Dewgram Government Primary School, Purbo Gurukshi Government Primary School, Lakhinagor Government Primary School, Fatepur Government Primary School, Nijdorgram Government Primary School, Baurbagh Haor Government Primary School, Purnanagor Government Primary School, Shirispur Government Primary School, Kochuarpar Government Primary School, Ghuramara Government Primary School, Sitingbari Government Primary School, Jolurmukh Abadipara Government Primary School and Chutokhel Government Primary School.

Floodwater from the schools in Guainghat is yet to start receding as the Guain, Sary and Pyan rivers continued to swell, said the education officer.

Jaintapur Upazila Education Officer Abdul Jalil Talukder said they could not hold classes for the last couple of days as Dultirpar and Diraimara government primary schools were affected by flood triggered by water from the hills.

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

Md Sirajul Islam, executive engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) in Sylhet, said thousands of people in the low-lying areas of the upazilas are marooned.

Dr Mamun-ur-Rashid, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Sylhet, said boro paddy and vegetables on over 73 thousand hectares of land in the upazilas have gone under water.