School building at risk as embankment encroaches on campus

An embankment built on the Manu river has encroached on Chatigaon Government Primary School's compound in Chatimelagor village under Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar, putting the school building at serious risk of getting damaged.

The unplanned construction of the flood protection embankment by Bangladesh Water Development Board, including part of the structure being buried under the soil in the vicinity of the school, has disrupted the academic environment of the institution.

The river now flows closer to the building, putting it at risk of collapse. One classroom has been abandoned amid the fear, while students struggle for access to the school by braving the steep, slippery embankment daily.

During a visit to the site, this correspondent observed that the embankment now runs along the building's roof, with soil being filled up to the windows on the west side. The earthen steps built to provide access have become treacherously slippery following rain, making it difficult for students to climb up or down safely.

"We are in a dangerous situation because of this dam. Students often slip and fall down the slippery earthen steps. No one can move around comfortably. Activities have been suspended in a classroom next to the dam due to the fear of collapse," said Ripna Rani Dey, head teacher of the school.

Local residents claimed they had raised concerns about the project earlier, but those were ignored.

"Our objections were brushed aside. Now the school must be relocated to prevent damage when water level rises," said Pradeep Chandra Dey, a local resident.

Former teacher Md Harunur Rashid, said, "The future of the school remains uncertain. Students are attending classes under precarious conditions, and here the BFDB and education authorities are debating over responsibility."

Abdul Aziz, a journalist and local resident, urged the authorities concerned for prompt steps to resolve the impasse.

According to the Primary Education Department, the BWDB did not consult the education authorities before beginning construction of the embankment on land that belongs to the school.

"The BWDB has built the dam without demarcating the boundaries of the school and by occupying the school's land, without any communication with us. If they had built the dam away from the school, the institution would have been saved. Due to BWDB's negligence, the students and teachers of the school are at risk," said Sharif Md Neamat Ullah, upazila education officer in Rajnagar.

"We went to the spot to inspect the situation, and informed the higher authorities in this regard," he added.

BWDB authorities, however, refuted the allegation.

"The dam was already existing there, we only repaired it for public interest. There was no opportunity to acquire land or relocate the dam, and no land of the school has been occupied," said Khaled Bin Olid, executive engineer of BWDB in Moulvibazar.