Haor flood shatters dream of education

The dream of continuing education of Baki Billah has been shattered by the recent flood in Tanguar haor area of Sunamganj.

Achieving GPA with 4.68 in the last SSC examinations, Baki Billah is not happy as the Boro cultivated on his father's land has been washed away due to the flood.

The successful Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees would face the same fate like Baki Billallah as the flood also inundated their Boro paddy fields.

Baki Billah, a student at Janata High School in Tanguar haor area under Tahirpur upazila, said his family's livelihood, including his education, depends on Boro paddy. He was helping his father in the paddy fields, hoping bumper production to bear the expenses of his education, but it is not possible now as all the paddy has been washed away.

His father Abu Khayer told this correspondent that his son's result could not bring any happiness to his family as he lost his paddy due to the floods.

He was hoping to admit his son to a renowned college after selling the Boro paddy, but his dream was shattered by flood, Khayer said.

Now they have to find a way to earn a livelihood as the good result will not bring food for his seven-member family, he added.

Headmaster Md Mudassir Alam said 49 students passed from the school this year and all of them live near the Tanguar haor. Their families depend on Boro paddy.

Most of the students who passed the SSC examinations offered them sweets every year after getting the results, but no one sent sweets this year, he added.

A large number of the students from haor areas, who achieved brilliant results, dreamed of getting admission to renowned government colleges, but their dreams have been shattered due to their financial inability and uncertainty about the future.

Tahirpur Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Kamruzzaman Kamrul said their excellent results cannot but surprise everyone as they are poor and deprived of all kinds of facilities.

Many of the students continue their studies working as day labourers in the paddy fields, he said, adding that they are to read old and torn books from their classmates and friends as they don't have ability to purchase new books.

He said government and welfare organisations should come forward to help them.