Padma erosion threatens primary school in Bangladesh

River erosion has brought Bangladesh’s Padma within about 50 meters of a government primary school in Shariatpur, prompting preparations to relocate the institution before further land collapses.

Altaf Hossain Khan Government Primary School opened in 2017, when the river was nearly 2 kilometers away. Erosion over the past two years has narrowed that distance, according to reporting by The Daily Star.

Teacher Naimur Rahman Khan said fear of erosion had already driven at least 100 students away. Staff have removed classroom partitions, ceiling fans, and tin fencing to enable a quick move.

Two neighboring primary schools were lost to the river in 2024 and 2025. Local education officer Bazlur Rahman said relocation preparations were underway. Water development engineer Md Milton Hossain said any protective measures would require permission from higher authorities.