Flood-hit kids work to support families

A large number of the school children in the haor areas of Sunamganj are staying away from classes as they have joined different types of works to support their hard-pressed parents after this year's floods washed away Boro paddy, the main crop of the area.

A Class V student of a local primary school, Minhaj Ahmed of Ratansree village in the district's Tahirpur upazila works as a boatman's assistant.

“While crossing the Tanguar Haor in a boat, my father died four years ago. Then my mother started working at others' homes. We got some Boro paddy from our land every year,” Minhaj said.

“But our Boro paddy was destroyed by floods this year. And my mother hardly finds any work as all are suffering from financial problem. So, I joined a work to support our four-member family,” he added.

Tipu Islam, a resident of Pathabuka village in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj, said he with his wife and daughter went to Dhaka in search of job after the floods destroyed their Boro paddy.

“There my daughter Jui Akter, a Class V student, joined a garment factory three months ago due to our hardship,” said Tipu, who came to see his village home.

While visiting Tanguar Haor area in Tahirpur upazila a couple of days ago, this correspondent saw a good number of children fishing with boats or helping parents in their work during school hours.

Till March, Class V student Rubel Mia attended his classes regularly but the sudden flood in April changed everything.

“We faced starvation after all of our nearly ripe Boro paddy was destroyed. Now our son Rubel is fishing in Tanguar Haor along with his father,” said Aklima Begum, mother of the boy.

Mizan Miah, driver of an engine-run boat in Tahirpur, said many children come to him for work.

Abdul Gani, headmaster of Kawhani Government Primary School in Dharmapasha upazila, said students' presence at classes has reduced as many of the kids joined work during and after the floods.

According to district primary and secondary education offices, there are approximately three and a half lakh students at the primary level and 1,21,000 students at the secondary level in Sunamganj.

Bayezid Ahmad, district primary education officer in Sunamganj, said

After the April flood, average attendance of students came down to 70% in Sunamganj district.