Schools in the north brace for hard times

Academic activities in several hundred educational institutions in the country's north have been suspended for about a week as those have been inundated with floodwater.

Many students are worried as their educational materials have been swept away by floodwater.

In Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, teaching in 337 primary and secondary schools and colleges remain stopped for a week.

Education officials said many schools are now being used as flood shelters. They will resume academic activities after the floodwater recedes.

"My school has been shut for the last eight days. People are now fishing in the water on my school premises," said Khalid Hasan, a class-4 student of Sardob Satkalua Government Primary School in Kurigram.

Saiful Islam, a fifth grader from Char Jatrapur of Kurigram, said floodwater swept away all furniture of his house along with his books, pens and school bag. "I am worried about how to resume studies after the reopening of my school."

Water entered his house about a week ago, forcing his six-member family to take shelter on a nearby road.

In Bogura, some 50 primary schools have been shut for over a week due to flooding, said Thamina Khatun, the district primary education officer (DPEO).

Jahidul Islam, a resident of Khatiamari char in the district's Sariakandi upazila, said his two sons are class-5 and class-2 students in Biramer Pachgachi Primary School.

"Water has entered our house and the school nine days ago. My sons are now stranded at home," he said.

In Gaibandha, flooding has caused the closure of at least 111 primary schools, said the local DPEO office.

In Sirajganj, water entered 84 primary schools, but the authorities concerned were yet to shut those.

"We are trying to shift academic activities to those school buildings which are not inundated," said Aminul Islam Mandol, DPEO of Sirajganj.

Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre yesterday forecasted that the overall flood situation in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogura and Sirajganj may improve today.

Our correspondents in Lalmonirhat, Bogura and Pabna contributed to this report.