Schools on the verge of collapse in Faridpur

Three schools in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur district could be devoured at any moment as the Madhumati River has taken a serious turn over the last couple of days.

The schools are Bazra Charpara Govt Primary School, West Charnaradia Govt Primary School and Panchuria Govt Primary School in Gopalpur union of the upazila.

According to the locals, the education system in the areas is under threat as the river around the year is damaging the educational institutions.

Besides, the government is losing crores of money as the buildings collapse and fall into the river.

Farida Parveen, headmistress of Bazra Charpara Govt. Primary School, said the school was established in 1995. Every monsoon, the students and teachers face a difficult situation as water enters the building.

But this year, the school stands in ruins as the river waits less than a metre away.

She added that hundreds of students from underprivileged families in the area would be deprived of their education if the school would go to the riverbed.

Joynab Khatun, the headmistress of West Charnaradia Govt. Primary School, said the tin-shed school might collapse into the river any time as the river erosion had taken a serious turn.

Joynab Khatun said the school building is now only 20 yards away from the river and urged the government to save the school.

Enam Hasan, a resident of Charnaradia, said riverbank erosion had affected an area of around two kilometres and five villages of the union.

Samir Kumar Saha, the headteacher of Panchuria Govt. Primary School, said the 86-year old school is on the verge of disappearance as the river has turned ferocious.

He also said parts of the south Panchuria union have crumbled into the river, which is now only 20 yards away from the primary school building, and the school may collapse anytime.

Meanwhile, he added that most portions of the Banstola road of Panchuria union and two pucca roads of the Togorbond area were partially affected by erosion.

Touhid Elahi, the executive officer (UNO) of Alfadanga upazila, said, “We are trying our best to save the schools.”

If the schools cannot be saved, then they will be shifted, he added.

According to media reports - Residents of the area have been voicing their hopes for a permanent solution to the erosion by the river in the last few years from the Water Development Board.

Faridpur Water Development Board Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE) Santosh Karmakar said large-scale projects are needed to prevent river erosion.

“I have already applied to the ministry concerned of the government for the construction of a permanent barrier. Geo-bags are being dumped temporarily to prevent erosion in the affected areas,“ he added.