Sixteen boats have been allocated to government primary schools in the haor region of Madhyanagar upazila of the district to ensure safe and uninterrupted travel for students during the monsoon season.
Sunamganj, a district surrounded by vast haor wetlands, is witnessing the new initiative to improve this region's student's access to education. Sunamganj-1 parliamentary constituency, comprising Jamalganj, Tahirpur, Dharmapasha and Madhyanagar upazilas, is one of the largest constituencies in the Sylhet division. The majority of its residents live in haor areas and depend mainly on agriculture and fisheries for their livelihoods.
The haor region contributes significantly to government revenue, but its unique geographical conditions create major challenges for education. The area experiences six months of monsoon and six months of dry season.
During the rainy season, low-lying areas become submerged, roads disappear under water and many schools face difficulties in maintaining regular activities due to transportation problems.
For children living in these wetlands, boats are often the only means of reaching educational institutions. Adverse weather conditions frequently prevent students from attending classes, increasing the risk of disruption to their education. Considering these challenges, an initiative has been taken to provide boats to students of 16 government primary schools in Madhyanagar upazila. The move is expected to make students' journeys safer and help maintain continuity in education. The boats were provided under the initiative of Sunamganj-1 constituency lawmaker Kamruzzaman Kamrul, with the aim of improving communication facilities for students in haor areas during the monsoon season. The lawmaker said the boats were prepared with Taka 2.6 lakh allocated under
the Rural Infrastructure Maintenance (TR) Programme for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The boats were formally handed over to head teachers and representatives of the selected schools.
The initiative is expected to bring positive changes to the education system in the haor region and increase student attendance.
The schools that received boats include Shaliani, Jamalpur, Kamaura, Khalishakanda, Golaikhali, Itauri, Dugnoi, Balarampur, Mashuakanda, Daulatpur, Doyadur Rahman, Alipur, Satu, Beersinghpara, Chapaiti and Ataisha Mashimpur Government Primary Schools. Local resident Manik Mia said that student attendance often declines during the rainy season as many children cannot reach schools due to transportation difficulties. "This initiative will encourage students to attend classes regularly," he said.
Madhyanagar Upazila Education Officer Md Delwar Hossain said around 45 of the 84 government primary schools in the upazila require students to travel by boat during the monsoon season.
"These boats will ensure safe and hassle-free travel for students and help increase school attendance," he said.
Head teacher and Teachers' Association President Rama Ranjan Sarker said travelling to schools during the rainy season is extremely difficult.
"When teachers come to school but find no students due to transportation problems, it becomes discouraging. This initiative is timely and has brought happiness among students and guardians," he added. Lawmaker Kamruzzaman Kamrul said he himself is a child of the haor region and understands the importance of improving communication systems to expand education opportunities.
"Many students cannot attend school during the monsoon season due to a lack of boats. That is why boats have been provided to primary schools where students need to cross waterways to reach their institutions," he said.
He added that arrangements would gradually be made for other schools as well, and necessary steps would be taken to further improve education in the haor areas.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Minhajur Rahman told BSS that the boats would ensure safe and uninterrupted travel for students. The initiative would bring a new dimension to education in the haor region by reducing student absenteeism and dropout rates, he added.
