Erosion onslaught engulfs pry school bldg in four hours

PABNA, Sept 03: A four-hour onslaught of current from the upstream engulfed the Char Madhupur Government Primary School (MGP) compound in Bhara union of Pabna Sadar upazila early Friday.

Starting on Thursday midnight, the spell of erosion by the river Padma continued till 6.00am Friday swallowing the entire school compound along with the tin-roof concrete building, playground, benches, chairs, tables, doors, windows, other objects and Shahid Minar.

A total of three classrooms along with one office room have been washed away by the eroding river.

Aiming to remove the darkness of ignorance from the area, some patrons of education established the school on 33 decimals of land as a non-government school in 1984, which started getting government facilities in 2013.

A total of three teachers, including the headmaster, are running the academic activities enduring much trouble as there are no modern facilities available for the students in the char area at all.

The students are now attending classes under the open sky as a preparation for the upcoming Primary Education Completion (PEC) examination.

President of the managing committee of Char Madhupur Government Primary School Abdul Aziz said the tin-shed school building was constructed spending Tk 1.4 million in 2010.

The river Padma was calm until Thursday night but turned turbulent on Friday devouring the school premises within four hours, he added.

"We are suffering much as the students' PEC examination is knocking at the door," said Abdul Karim, headmaster of the school.

Assistance Upazila Education Officer (ATEO) Nisith Kumar Biswas said, the river is flowing some 200 feet away round the clock but the intensity of erosion increased suddenly, devouring the entire school.

Meanwhile, some people of the char area have taken shelter at safer place losing more land, houses, and cropland and playground to the river erosion.

The villagers are facing the threat of erosion as no steps have been taken to shore up the bank.

Upazila Education Officer (TEO) Aklima Khanom said she has informed the matter to the higher authorities to take immediate steps.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Joynal Abedin said to this correspondent dry food has been given to the affected villagers and a list of the victims is being prepared for their rehabilitation.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education & ICT) Saheed Parvez said, "Recently, after receiving application, we will provide CI shit to reconstruct the school building. The school was established in the char area so it was supposed to collapse anytime," he added.

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