Teaching in seven government primary schools in Paba and Bagha upazilas of Rajshahi has been suspended due to the rising water level of the Padma. There are 12 government primary schools in these two upazilas in the Padma char. Out of these, arrangements have been made for the students of one school in Paba to be taught in another government primary. The char is a remote area, and the rate of flash floods in both is high, which has put the educational life of about 750 students of the seven schools in uncertainty. And several government primary schools are being used as shelters.

According to the District Primary Education Office, there are three government primary schools in the Padma Char in the district’s Pobar – Charkhidipur, Char Nabinagar (Mazardiar) Government Primary School and Char Taranagar Government Primary School. However, every year, Charkhidipur Government Primary School is submerged under three and a half to four feet of water due to the river. As a result, teaching is suspended for two to two and a half months in a year. The water does not rise in the remaining two chars. And even if it rises, there is no problem in teaching the students.

On the spot, it was seen in Charkhidipur that water has entered every house in Khidirpur. There is no place like a molehill. Most of the houses are under three to four feet of water. The same situation is in the only government primary school in the area. Water has entered all the classes of this school. The posts of the barbed wire fence in the school are submerged. In such a situation, the authorities have been forced to stop teaching. The residents of this area and many students of this school and their relatives have gone to the locality (in Rajshahi city). According to the concerned, they are taking classes in two classrooms of Shyampur Government Primary School.

Saddam Ali, a resident of Charkhidirpur, has two sons and a daughter who study at Charr Primary School. He said, “The school has been submerged in the Padma River. As a result, teachers cannot come to the school. And there is no arrangement to accommodate students in the school. The school is submerged under four feet of water. Classes will be closed for one to one and a half months after the water recedes. And the parents of the boys and girls have sent them to their locality. Young boys and girls are at risk of drowning in the water.”

Sifat, who is in second grade, said, “We have to take a boat to school. The school is submerged in water. There are no classes.”

On the other hand, nine government primary schools in the char area of ​​Bagha have been flooded due to the abnormal rise in the water of the Padma River. Teaching activities have been closed in some of these schools. Some schools are also being used as shelters for people in flood-affected areas. This information was given in a report dated September 13, 2026 by the Bagha Upazila Education Office. The report states that schools located in the char area and their surrounding areas have been flooded due to the abnormal rise in the water of the Padma River. The Upazila Assistant Primary Education Officer inspected the situation on the spot. Later, the Upazila Executive Officer was also informed about the matter.

Teaching is continuing in three of the nine schools in Bagha. Among them, teaching activities are continuing in Palashi Fatehpur Government Primary School. The school is being used as a flood shelter. Teaching activities are continuing in Chakrajapur Government Primary School and Purba Chakrajapur Government Primary School. In addition, Chaumadia Government Primary School has been moved due to river erosion. Teaching activities are currently closed. Atarpara Government Primary School is flooded. Flood-affected people in the area are using the school as a shelter. Teaching activities are closed in this school. Paschim Charkalidaskhali Government Primary School is flooded and teaching activities are closed. Fatehpur Palashi Government Primary School is flooded. Flood-affected people in the area are using it as a shelter. As a result, teaching activities are closed. Laxminagar Government Primary School is flooded and teaching activities are closed. In addition, Charkalidaskhali Government Primary School is flooded and teaching activities are closed.

Abdur Rahman, a former member of Ward No. 2 of Chakrajapur Union Parishad, said that the water level of the Padma River has suddenly increased. As a result, schools, mosques and even people’s homes have disappeared into the riverbed.

Sohel Rana, acting headmaster of Chaumadia Government Primary School, said, “There is no situation to go to school, the school has collapsed and gone into the river. Therefore, classes have been suspended. There are 91 students and 3 teachers in this school.”

Bagha Upazila Education Officer Mir Md. Mamunur Rahman said – With the increase in the water level of the Padma, normal educational activities have been disrupted in these educational institutions in the char areas of Bagha. Besides, some schools are also being used as shelters for flood-affected people. On September 9, the Upazila Assistant Primary Education Officer of the concerned cluster visited the schools on the spot. During the visit, he observed the situation of the schools and informed the Bagha Upazila Executive Officer about the matter.

Regarding the matter, Paba Upazila Education Officer Jobaida Rawshan Jahan said – There are three government primary schools in Padma Char in Paba Upazila area. One is Charkhidipur, Char Nabinagar (Mazar Diya) Government Primary School and Char Taranagar. Due to the increase in water in the river, students of Charkhidipur Government Primary School are being taught at Shyampur Government Primary School. This has been informed to the district office.

In this regard, Rajshahi District Primary Education Officer A.K.M. Anwar Hossain said, “Teaching is not suspended in schools. Those that are closed are being taught alternatively.”

Shahidul Islam, a UP member in Charkhidirpur of Harian Union in Paba Upazila of Rajshahi, said, “About 700 people from 200 families are stranded. People are leaving the char. The government primary school in the area is closed. There is water all around the school. There is three to four feet of water around the school.”