2 schoolhouses face threat of extinction

Two educational institutions at Char Manair union in Sadarpur upazila are under threat of erosion by Arial Kha river.

Teachers, students and their guardians have been urging the authorities concerned to take steps to save Char Bondor Khola Fazil Madrasa and Char Bondor Khola Nadyria Government Primary School from erosion.

Three tin-sheds of Char Bondor Khola Fazil Madrasa went into the river in July, and a building with the office room was washed away on Friday. Char Bondor Khola Nadyria Government Primary School is also facing erosion as it is situated beside the madrasa.

This correspondent recently visited the erosion-hit area in Char Bondor Khola village and students, guardians, teachers and locals expressed concern to him about the very existence of the madrasa and school in the face of erosion.

A building of Char Bondor Khola Nadyria Government Primary School in the same village is also under threat as it is next to the madrasa. The photos were taken on August 10. Photo: Star

“Around 560 students study at the madrasa, which was established in 1960. We had four brick buildings and five tin-sheds. Three tin-sheds and one building have been washed away by the river,” said of Char Bondor Khola Fazil Madrasa acting Principal Md Mahfujul Hasan.

“We have no other place to shift our madrasa,” he added.

“Our school is just beside Char Bondor Khola Fazil Madrasa, so we are under great threat of erosion,” said Char Bondor Khola Nadyria Government Primary School Headmaster Md Nijamuddin Akon.

“Around 50 homesteads, 500 bighas of cropland and 200 trees have gone into the river in the last 15 days. The madrasa and a primary school are under threat of river erosion. District Water Development Board (WDB) has been dumping geo-bags in the area but it is not sufficient,” said Char Manair Union Parishad Chairman Md Ayub Ali. 

“We regularly take updates about erosion in that area,” said Upazila Education Officer Md Jalal Uddin.

“We have already dumped 14,000 geo-bags, in Char Bondor Khola area, but the strong current washes them away,” said Faridpur WDB Executive Engineer Sultan Mahmud.