Jamuna River Swallows School Building in Manikganj

A three-storey building of Bharanga Government Primary School in Daulatpur upazila of Manikganj was completely devoured by the Jamuna River on Saturday afternoon, following days of intense and unrelenting riverbank erosion.

The collapse has left local residents shocked and raised concerns about the increasing threat posed by river erosion in the region. According to eyewitnesses and local officials, the erosion began several days ago, gradually weakening the riverbank near the school premises.

Md Khorshed Alam, executive engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in Manikganj, confirmed the incident on Sunday. He stated that despite monitoring the situation, the speed and intensity of the erosion made it impossible to take preventive action in time.

Wazed Ali Sarkar, member of Ward 5 of Bachamara Union, said the school had been in a vulnerable state due to severe erosion throughout the past week.

"Initially, a portion of the school building was submerged. By Saturday afternoon, the remaining structure also gave way and sank into the Jamuna," he said.

Efforts were made to salvage some of the school’s furniture, including chairs, tables, and teaching materials. However, the majority of classroom assets, books, and equipment were lost in the river.

Daulatpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nahiyan Nuren said, "Upon receiving early warnings, we sent a local engineer to inspect the site on Friday. But unfortunately, by Saturday, the entire building had been consumed by the river."

She added that necessary steps are being taken to ensure continuity of education for affected students, including arrangements for an alternative location to resume classes.

Locals have urged the government to take urgent steps to strengthen riverbank protection infrastructure in Daulatpur and other erosion-prone areas of Manikganj. Environmental experts warn that increasing river erosion, fueled by monsoon rains and upstream water pressure, continues to threaten livelihoods, homes, and public institutions along the Jamuna River.

Authorities are now assessing the extent of the damage and planning measures to prevent further losses in the area.