Kids take boat ride to attend classes

A good number of primary school students in Satla union under Ujirpur upazila of the district have to take risky boat ride to attend classes at least six months a year.

In most cases, the small kids, including girls, run the boats themselves.  

"We remain anxious as our kids pass the waterway in country boats amid risk," said Bhagirath Mallik, a guardian of a student of Pashchim Kalbila Government Primary School in the union.

If a three-kilometre road from Nayakana to Madhya Kalbila is built, most of the students and teachers would be able to go to school easily, locals said.

Beels, canals and other water bodies cover large areas of Satla union inhabited by around 30 thousand people but no initiative has been taken to build roads to ease villagers' communication to and from the union parishad centre.

"Pashchim Kalbila Government Primary School was set up in 1973. There are three other primary schools in this area but most of the students have to go to school on small boats," said Ajit Kumar Roy, headmaster of the school.

Selina Khanam, a student of the school, said they feel worried while going to school for couple of months during the rains.

"We have to go to school on our small boats," Mihir Deuri, a Class II student.

"When winds blow, we face serious trouble," said Rayhan Hossain, another student.

Hafizur Rahman, chairman of Ujirpur Upazila Parishad, said, "No one informed me about the situation. I will try to take steps for building roads in the area from the next year."

Md Shahidul Islam, upazila education officer, said they informed the higher authorities of the matter, urging steps to ease communication of the schoolchildren.