The mighty Padma threatens to devour Arambaria High School in Ishwardi of Pabna. The school only has about 1.5 acres of land left and it could all go if erosion starts again this year. Photo: Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu

The teachers and students of Arambaria High School and Arambaria Government Primary School in Shara union of Ishwardi upazila under the district are passing worrying time as the two adjoining institutions face the threat of erosion by the Padma any time.
“In last year the Padma devoured three bighas of land including the science building and laboratory, mosque, Shaheed Minar and a portion of the playground of Arambaria High School. The river has now come near the two -storied main building of the high school,” said Ranajit Kumar Bishwas, acting headmaster of Arambaria High School.
The high school and the primary school were established on the same compound of a 2.5-acre land at Arambaria village in Ishwardi upazila in 1969 when the river was around six kilometres away. Now both the institutions with remaining 1.5 acres of land face threat of further erosion, he added.
“The river is swelling fast, raising the threat of erosion any time. Immediate protection measures are needed to save the two schools,” said Monwara Rahman, headmistress of the Arambaria Government Primary School.
“We have already submitted application to the district administration to take immediate measures to save the two institutions,” Shahabul Sardar, chairman of Arambaria High School committee, said.
Ishwardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Sanwar Hossain said the upazila administration has already informed the district administration of the condition of the two institutions and sought fund for immediately starting protection work.
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in February this year approved a Tk 220-crore project for construction of a protection embankment on the Padma but the project is yet to start, sources said.