Padma River washes away primary school building in Shariatpur

Classes have been suspended from Sept 4, and important items removed on Sunday

A government primary school building in Bhedarganj Upazila of Shariatpur has been washed away by the Padma River, along with its land.

With the only building of the school gone, classes have been suspended.

The building of No. 151 North Mathabhanga Mannan Sarker Government Primary School collapsed into the river on Monday afternoon, said Bhedarganj Upazila administrator (UNO) Abu Abdullah Khan.

Parents and teachers said the school was at risk of river erosion since 2023. At that time, the Water Development Board tried to combat the erosion by dumping sand-filled geo-bags in the river. Those bags were swept away in June.

The head teacher later wrote to the deputy commissioner, the district primary education officer, the Bhedarganj UNO and the Upazila primary education officer, seeking action to save the building. But no steps were taken.

As the building edged closer to collapse, classes were suspended from Sept 4. On Sunday, necessary items were removed from the school.

Billal Hossain, a resident of North Mathabhanga and father of a student, said: “This school has been running for six years. Our children were studying here. Now it has gone into the Padma. Where will our children study now?”

Jasim Uddin Khan, member of ward No. 2 of Kachikata Union Parishad, said the land donors had been contacted. If they agree to provide land elsewhere, the school activities will resume there. Until then, classes will remain suspended.

Tarek Hasan, executive engineer of the Water Development Board in Shariatpur, said a proposal to build a 3.5km river protection embankment in Kachikata had been submitted to the ministry and was awaiting approval.

However, no separate allocation was received to protect the school, he added.