A school in lapping water makes struggle harder | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
May 20, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025
A school in lapping water makes struggle harder

Education

Ariful Islam Mithu
08 November, 2019, 04:00 pm
Last modified: 21 November, 2019, 09:07 pm

Related News

  • Kishorganj emerge as champions in NCC
  • 4 farmers, 2 schoolgirls killed in lighting strikes across 3 districts
  • Deadly lightning appears scary for Kishoreganj haor, hampering harvest
  • BNP leader killed, 2 farmers injured after being hit by lightning in Kishoreganj
  • Kishoreganj haor women become self-reliant farming cattle, fish

A school in lapping water makes struggle harder

Baherbali SESDP Model High School is the only high school in the area

Ariful Islam Mithu
08 November, 2019, 04:00 pm
Last modified: 21 November, 2019, 09:07 pm

It was 9:45 in the morning on October 22 this year. The lone engine-run boat of the Baherbali SESDP Model High School was fast heading towards Tarakandi haor to bring students from Aynargoop and Parkachua villages that sit at least three kilometres away from the school.

Ten students of different classes – all in uniform – girls in sky-blue kameez and white pyjamas and boys in white shirt and black pants – were waiting for the boat.

They all boarded the boat the moment it reached the shore of the haor.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

This is how nearly 300 students take turn in crossing the haor to arrive at their school to attend classes during the rainy season. Seven schoolteachers also go by the boat.

Riding a boat regularly for going to a school would seem like a drudgery for many mainland school-goers, but not for haor children. They are always ready to cross this hurdle to get the opportunity of education.

"We need to get up early in the morning to catch the boat. If any one of us misses the boat he or she will miss classes," said Durga Rani Das, an eighth grader from village Aynargoop.

"During the monsoon, the boat is the only mode of transportation," said Durga whose father didn't have the opportunity to go to high school.

The Baherbali SESDP Model High School stands on the northern edge of Baherbali village. This is the only high school in the area.

Though the school remains operational year round, half of the ground floor remains underwater for around five months a year when Meghna and other rivers and haors swell up in the rainy season.

The school was constructed in 2011 under an ADB-funded Secondary Education Sector Development project.

When a proposal came for constructing the school, villagers found it tough to manage land for it. 

Students on their way to the Baherbali SESDP Model High School, the only high school in the Bajitpur Upzaila in Kishoregonj. Photo: Jakir Hosen
Students on their way to the Baherbali SESDP Model High School, the only high school in the Bajitpur Upzaila in Kishoregonj. Photo: Jakir Hosen

"At last, Saidur Rahman of Baherbali village agreed to donate two of four bighas of his land required for the school. The villagers bought the remaining two bighas from him," said Ali Amzad, a village doctor.    

Baherbali, an island-like village, one kilometre in length and 50 metres in width, is home to nearly 1,000 families.

Most of them are either farmers or fishermen by profession. In the rainy season, when there is water in haors and rivers, people go fishing, and when the water recedes they go for cultivation.

Sending their children to schools was a dream to them.

"Once the school was established, the villagers took the opportunity to educate their children, hoping to ensure a better life for them," said Amzad.

Children from Aynargoop, Parkachua, Boali and Purakanda village also go to school.

In those villages, there are five primary schools too. After completing their primary education, many did not get the opportunity to go to high schools. 

After the school started its journey in 2013, teachers and students of the school had to come to school on commercial boats by paying Tk10 each per trip.

In 2016, local lawmaker Afzal Hossain donated them a boat that has the capacity to carry 40 children at a time. The three-tonne iron-made boat carries students to and from one village after another.

As the school premises remain inundated for nearly five months, the students do not get the chance of playing on the field. They have turned the rooftop of the school building into a garden with different types of flower plants.

"When the classes finish, we wait on the rooftop for our turn to go home on the boat," said Tarin Sultana, a class-nine student, who also won the Primary School Certificate Scholarship.

In summer, the students face difficulty as they come to the school on foot. They said they like the rainy season most as there is a boat for taking them to the school.

"Although the school is situated in a remote area of Majichar union under Bajitpur upazila, we are happy that students, as well as their guardians, are becoming aware of education," said Prova Rani Das, acting headmaster of the school.

She said most people in the Majichar area are living in poverty. As a result, male children sometimes have to go to work with their parents. But the female ones stay at home and they get more opportunity for education.

"Our observation is that most students in the school try not to miss classes. Especially, the presence of girl students is really encouraging," said Prova Rani Das. 

The main problem they face is that there is only a boat for carrying around 300 students.

The schoolteachers said they are badly in need of another boat to smoothly run the school. If they get another boat, the enrolment of students will increase.

Bangladesh / Top News

Baherbali SESDP Model High School / Kishoreganj

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a reception, following the UK-EU summit, in London, Britain, May 19, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/Pool/File Photo
    UK suspends trade talks with Israel, summons ambassador, issues sanctions over new Gaza offensive
  • A file photo of the NBR Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka
    NBR dissolution: Protesters say meeting with advisers not fruitful, announces sit-in programme tomorrow
  • 36 Bangladeshi trucks carrying ready-made garments were stranded at Benapole land port on Sunday. Photo: Collected
    Land port restrictions and the Kaladan project: Is bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh falling apart?

MOST VIEWED

  • Lotto inaugurates new factory to nearly triple production capacity
    Lotto inaugurates new factory to nearly triple production capacity
  • Ikramul Hasan Shakil at the Base Camp of Mount Everest. Photo: Collected from Shakil's official Facebook page
    From sea to summit: Shakil walks from Cox's Bazar to conquer Everest
  • Illustration: Collected
    Unemployment rate hits historic high, rises to 4.63% as 27.4 lakh now jobless
  • Representational image
    Govt plans to scrap reduced tax benefits for textile sector
  • Saleh Uddin Ahmed. Sketch: TBS
    Large depositors in troubled banks to be offered shares, bonds: Salehuddin
  • The Chattogram Custom House building in Chattogram. File Photo: Collected
    Ctg custom house pen-down strike continues for 5th day

Related News

  • Kishorganj emerge as champions in NCC
  • 4 farmers, 2 schoolgirls killed in lighting strikes across 3 districts
  • Deadly lightning appears scary for Kishoreganj haor, hampering harvest
  • BNP leader killed, 2 farmers injured after being hit by lightning in Kishoreganj
  • Kishoreganj haor women become self-reliant farming cattle, fish

Features

Fired by US aid cuts, driven by courage: A female driver steering through uncertainty

Fired by US aid cuts, driven by courage: A female driver steering through uncertainty

5h | Features
Photo: TBS

How Shahbagh became the focal point of protests — and public suffering

1d | Panorama
PHOTO: Collected

Helmet Hunt: Top 5 half-face helmets that meet international safety standards

2d | Wheels
Photo: Collected

Simple accessories to extend the life of your luggage

2d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

How is China the 'winner' of the India-Pakistan conflict?

How is China the 'winner' of the India-Pakistan conflict?

14m | Others
Why ADP implementation rate lowest in education and health sectors?

Why ADP implementation rate lowest in education and health sectors?

44m | Podcast
Chief Advisor's meeting with the chief of Armed Forces

Chief Advisor's meeting with the chief of Armed Forces

1h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 20 MAY 2025

News of The Day, 20 MAY 2025

2h | TBS News of the day
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net