by News Desk

DHAKA (The daily Star/ANN) - Amid heavy deluge, around 2,100 educational institutions in 12 districts remain shut. At least 2,100 educational institutions in Bangladesh, mostly government primary schools, have closed due to severe flooding in 12 districts in a week.

Some of the schools are being used as shelter for locals while the others have been inundated, reports our correspondents from the affected districts. The situation in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Bogra and Sirajganj districts is likely to worsen Tuesday, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned on Monday.

The FFWC has been monitoring different rivers from 93 stations, of which 26 stations reported dangerously high water levels. Moreover, the northern and north-eastern regions may see medium to heavy rainfall today, it said.

The Road transport and bridges ministry in directed its officials to ensure road communication across the country. In Netrakona district, at least 213 schools in Kalmakanda and Durgapur upazilas have been close, education officials said.

“We were forced to suspend classes as students can’t come due to flooded roads,” said Ataur Rahman Khan, headteacher of Nazirpur Palli Jagoron High School in Durgapur upazila. Classes in 300 schools in Bandarban district, 65 in Mymensingh’s Dhobaura, and 37 in Sherpur have been suspended.

Most of the affected school are run by government.

“Our home has been flooded. We have evacuated for survival. How will I send my son to school?” asked Sirajul Islam, whose son goes to Bandarban Town Primary School. Head teacher of the school Sohel Azad said, “Around 100 families took shelter in our school. Classes are out of question?”

However, the district’s overall flood situation started improving yesterday. In Kurigram, some 392 schools in nine upazilas have been closed. Of these, 76 are being used as flood shelters.

“I haven’t been to school in a week. My teachers and parents asked me not to go to school until the flood goes away,” said Baizid Alam, a fourth grader of Pachgachhi Government Primary School in the town.

In Sylhet division, authorities have suspended academic activities of at least 813 eschools due to flood. About 37 other schools may have to be closed in a day or two, said Jahangir Ahmed, deputy director of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in Sylhet.

Our Mymensingh, Sherpur, Bandarban, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogura, Gaibandha, Pabna and Chattogram correspondents contributed to the report.