School building collapsed in to Jamuna River at Chauhali

Staff Reporter, Sirajganj :

Due to the increase of water in the Jamuna river in the fifth phase, the erosion of Jamuna is going on severely in Chauhali upazila of Sirajganj. A building of Chandpur Government Primary School devoured in the river on Tuesday morning due to strong current. Another hangs on the river bank. Any time it will also demolish in the river.
 Chandpur Government Primary School was established in 1989 with the efforts of locals to spread education in the area. Educational activities were stopped as the academic building was submerged in the river. As a result, the education of 200 students has become uncertain. Besides, erosion is going on in 4 villages. District Water Development Board did not take any effective measures to prevent erosion in time, causing anger among local residents including students.
It is known on the ground that erosion is going on the east and west banks of Sadia Chandpur Union of Chauhali. Erosion occurs in Dewantala, Sankarhati, Gaberpar, Majhgram Sadia and Chandpur villages due to strong current during rise and fall of water in the river.
Abdul Hakim, head teacher of the School, assistant teachers Shariful Islam and Iqbal Hossain said that the school building demolished before our eyes. The school was not saved despite the repeated requests of the concerned officials including Water Development Board. This situation would not have arisen if permanent dam had been made here. It will not be possible for the students to continue their studies if a room are not arranged soon. Students Zakir Hossain and Rekha Khatun said that the school went into the river. Where will we study now? We want a house. I want to go to school again.
Ramzan Ali Sheikh, a former member of the school managing committee, said that more than half a hundred houses in 4 villages, including Chandpur, have gone into the river. Today the school is closed. Another high school and primary school are under threat. Despite all this, the officials of the Water Development Board are still indifferent. Their visits and assurances have lifted the spirits of the riverside residents. Although some funds were allocated earlier, due to its lack of proper work, erosion is ongoing. For this, the public officials and the contractor’s people are responsible.
In this regard, Jahangir Alam Zahid, UP Chairman Sadia Chandpur said, I have heard that a project to prevent erosion has been approved but the work has not started, so more than half a hundred houses in 4 villages including primary schools have been destroyed. For this reason, there is gross negligence on the part of PUBO officials and related contractors. He demanded to start work quickly.
Milton Hossain, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Sirajganj Town, who is in charge of erosion supervision, said that he cannot make any comments without the permission of higher authorities. To know the fact from Shafiqul Islam, Sirajganj Water Development Board executive engineer this reporter called his mobile several times, but he was not available.
However, Shaheen Reza, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Pabna Bara Kaitala Construction Department of Water Development Board, said that under the Flood and River Bank Erosion Risk Management Investment Program (F.E.R.M.I.P.) Project-2, an underwater web protection dam will be constructed at a cost of Tk 31 crore covering 7 km from Meher Nagar to Enayetpur Dam in Chandpur Union. For this, Jio bags will be thrown. However, the process of finalizing the contractor is currently underway. This breach has been reported to the higher authorities.