Education of 400 students of a high school in Rajapur upazila of the district is facing uncertainty as the school is under threat of being washed away due to the increasing erosion by the Bishkhali river during the last one month.

Two-third of the playground of Mathbari Union High School in Badurtola has been devoured by the river, and the school building may be destroyed at any time due to fresh erosion.

The high school was established in 1970 at Badurtola Bazar when the river was one kilometre away, according to the local people.    

Most of the students are worried about the school as their final exam is very close, they said, adding that if the school is washed away, their education may be stopped.  

A market, around 100 houses and about 100 acres of agricultural land have gone into the river, shopkeepers in the bazar said.  “We shifted our shops five times to avoid the erosion,” they added.

“We are always afraid when attending classes as our school may collapse any time and go into the river,” said Shakila Khanum, a student at the school. 

Mamun, a Class X student, said they come to school every day with the fear that the school might disappear into the river.

Headmaster Md Ayub Ali Khan said the school playground has already been eroded, adding that the school should be shifted as soon as possible to avoid great loss.

“We need financial support to re-establish the school, and our school committee chairman is trying hard to get a safe place to relocate it,” he added.  

“SSC examinees will suffer the most if the school goes into the river,” the headmaster said.

“I requested the departments concerned to take steps to protect the school, but they have not taken any action as yet. At the same time, we are looking for land to relocate the school,” said engineer Golam Haider Khan, president of the school managing committee.

“I will visit the school soon and take necessary steps to save it,” said Bazlul Haque Haroon, lawmaker from Jhalakathi-1.