Sunamganj schools hit hard by flood

Academic activities at 85 primary schools in Sunamganj have remained suspended for a week due to flood. 

The Jadukata, Cholti, Surma and Tanguar haors have continued to swell and so it would be long before floodwaters begin to retreat from these institutions, said Hazrat Ali, primary education officer of Sunamganj district. 

Besides, the Surma river passing through the district rose to 8.77m yesterday, crossing the danger level by 52cm, said Anwar Hosain, of the Water Development Board (WDB), Sunamganj. 

Of the schools affected, 18 are in Doarabazar upazila, three in Sunamganj sadar, 22 in Bishwanath, 12 in Jamalganj, 14 in Dharampasa, three in Dakkhin Sunamganj, five in Chhatak upazila and eight in Tahirpur upazila.

The schools are not officially closed, Hazrat said. The authorities could not continue classes since the schools were waterlogged, he added.  

Ten-year-old Mina Akhter, who studies in Class-IV in Jamlabaj Primary School, said she and her classmates were not going to the school as floodwater entered the premises.

Her father Abdul Matin, 45, of Jamlabaj village in Tahirpur upazila in the Jadukata river basin, said more than 100 houses were inundated in the area. Villagers took shelter on roads.

Floodwaters affected at least 50,000 people in Sunamganj, said Dipok Kumar Das, deputy divisional engineer of the WDB, Sunamganj.

Five unions, including Laxmipur, Banglabazar, and Narsinghpur, were cut off from Doarabazar upazila by floods, said Doarabazar upazila Chairman M Idris Ali. 

Golam Rabbi Jahan, primary education officer of Tahirpur upazila, said eight schools in the upazila were affected by the onrush of hilly water.

Of them, Shemgaon Government Primary School is now under three feet water. Balichera dyke has already broken, allowing floodwaters into six villages.

As the Surma river swells, the embankment along the river is facing the risk of damage at 18 points. Most of the families living beside the river are in fear of losing their cropland and homesteads.

Upazila education officers have been asked to submit reports on affected schools as early as possible, said Hazrat Ali, the district primary education officer.