Teesta devours schools, 50 homesteads in 3 days

The Teesta River has devoured academic buildings and at least 50 homesteads in Dawabari village in Hatibandha upazila of the district in the last three days.

Nur Islam, headmaster of Dawabari Government Primary School, said the school building went into the Teesta River on Monday. A portion of Dawabari Junior High School has also been eroded he said, adding that he has already informed the upazila education officer of the situation.

Hasan Atiqur Rahman, Hatibandha upazila primary education officer, said as the school building has been devoured by the river, an alternative arrangement will have to be made. "I will write to the authorities concerned to construct a new building for Dawabari Government Primary school," he said.

Morsheda Bewa, 48, of Dawabari village, said the Teesta onslaught has brought sorrow for them after the Eid-ul-Azha. "The river engulfed my homestead before I could save it. I have taken shelter on a road," she said.

"The Teesta continues to devour homesteads, croplands, orchards and important infrastructures one after another," said Shamsul Islam, 50, of the same village, who has taken shelter at a relative's house after losing his homestead.

Manowar Hossain, 45, said he and many other villagers have taken shelter at safer places, fearing erosion by the river. "I have already lost two bighas of land with aman paddy and a banana orchard on five bighas of land in the last three days," he added.

Delowar Hossain Babla, chairman of Dawabari Union Parishad, said he has informed the upazila administration and the Water Development Board WDB authorities about the matter. "I have been providing help for the erosion affected families," he added.

Shibendu Khastagir, executive engineer of WDB in Lalmonirhat, said WDB officials visited the affected area and they will take necessary steps to check the erosion as soon as possible.