Jamuna River Erosion Forces Chakratinath Government Primary School to Relocate Six Times in 10 Years; Storm Blows Away Half Its Roof

The school has had to move six times in the past 10 years due to erosion by the Jamuna River. After the latest erosion, it had to take shelter on an embankment. Now, a storm has blown away almost half of the tin roof of the temporary school. As a result, young students in the remote river island area are facing great difficulties. Normal classes have also been disrupted.

Teachers, students and parents have expressed concern over the poor condition of Chakratinath Government Primary School in Sariakandi upazila of Bogura.
According to school sources, the school was damaged again by the Jamuna River on May 11 this year. Later, a temporary tin-roofed classroom was built on the Hatsharpara embankment, and classes started there.
However, a sudden storm began after midnight yesterday. It blew away almost half of the school’s tin roof, which fell on nearby land.

Assistant teacher Alamgir Kabir said, “When I came to school in the morning, I saw that almost half of the tin roof was gone. Today, 65 students came to school. We somehow managed to seat them under the remaining roof. Still, many students have to attend classes in the open sun. This is badly affecting their lessons.”
Teachers said the school has faced erosion by the Jamuna River six times since 2015. It has had to move six times to different places in three villages because of river erosion. Most recently, it took shelter on the Hatsharpara embankment in May this year.

The school is now running under a tin roof on one side of a narrow embankment. The roof is only three to four feet above the ground, making it very difficult for students during hot weather.
The school also lacks proper toilets, safe drinking water and a suitable place for teachers to sit.
Acting Head Teacher Jinnah Alam said students and teachers have to take shelter in nearby homes whenever it rains, storms or lightning occurs. He said the lack of basic facilities and proper buildings creates problems every day.
Parent Sakhawat Sohel said the Jamuna River has come within 10 metres of the school again over the past four months. He feared that the temporary roof and the remaining part of the school could fall into the river at any time.

Assistant teacher Alamgir Kabir also said the school has seven teacher posts, but only five teachers are currently working there. Two of them are women. They recently returned to the school after completing 10 months of training at the Primary Teachers Training Institute (PTI). However, there is no toilet for them either. They have to use toilets at nearby homes when needed.

As the school is located on an embankment, people, cattle, goats and horse carts move along it throughout the day. This makes it difficult for students to concentrate on their lessons.
According to school sources, the school was established in 1919. At one time, around 500 students studied there. After being moved six times due to river erosion, the number of students has fallen to only 73.

New Site Selected, but School Has Not Yet Moved
After the school moved to the embankment, the upazila administration selected a new site on a newly emerged river island on the eastern side of the Jamuna for its permanent relocation.
In July, Sariakandi Upazila Primary Education Officer Sheikh Md. Mahtabur Rahman took steps to move the school to the new site.

However, teachers said there has been no visible progress even after a long time. The responsibility for raising the ground at the new site was given to the upazila project officer, but the work has not yet started.
Sariakandi Upazila Project Officer Rashedul Islam said there was no separate budget for earthwork at the new site. Recently, the office received regular allocations under the KABIKHA and TR programmes. The work has been included in the list of projects, and earthwork will begin within the next 10 to 12 days.
Regarding the delay, Sariakandi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Mikail Islam said there was no earlier allocation for the earthwork. Recently, the Upazila Primary Education Officer received an allocation. He said steps would be taken to move the school to the new site very soon.

Chakartinath Government Primary School has struggled for years to survive river erosion and natural disasters. Building a permanent school structure has now become an urgent need.
Local people fear that the future of children in this remote river island area will become even more uncertain unless the school is moved quickly and proper facilities are provided.