Educational institutions remain submerged in Jamalpur due to heavy rain and flood around 800 academic institutions in seven upazilas of Jamalpur district remain submerged for about 12 days due to heavy rains, leaving all the academic functions mothballed.
Around 20 primary and high schools of Islampur upazila were seen submerged on Monday.
Only the rooftops of Debraipatch Primary School and Dewanpara Chinaduli High School could be seen. The other schools have submerged to a level that all furniture has been damaged by water.
According to the district education office, of the 787 academic institutions shut down, 589 are primary schools, 135 high schools, 11 schools and colleges, 5 colleges and 57 madrasas.
Mohammed Anwar-ul Kabir, principal of Debraipatch Technical and BM College said, “My school is flooded every year but this year the water level rose up to the roof, damaging stationery and furniture. The water is slowly decreasing, but it will still need about a week to clean up the place.” Shahanaz Parveen, a student of eleventh grade said, “No one knows when classes will begin. This is affecting our studies.”
Seeking shelter on Baliyadoho bridge with his family, Rafiqul Islam, a fifth grade student of Islampur Baliyadoho Primary School said water has reached up to the roof of his school and it has been closed for 12 days. When the water first entered his house, Rafiq carefully perched his books on a high shelf but in matter of two days he and his family sought shelter on top of the Baliyadoho bridge.
Primary education officer of Jamalpur district, Abdul Alim told the media the water level has just started to decrease. Once the water recedes completely, the areas will be cleaned thoroughly and extra classes will be held to make up the loss. The Jamalpur Water Development Board said yesterday within 24 hours the water level fell from 101 centimetres to 80, near the Bahadurbad point of Jamuna. About 600 thousand are now marooned in Islampur, Dewaganj, Molandoho, Madarganj and Bakshiganj upazilas of Jamalpur.
