Sundarganj: A total of 713 students from five schools in the disaster-prone areas of Sundarganj upazila have received disaster-resilient materials, facilitated by the Gaibandha-based NGO, SKS Foundation. The distribution ceremony took place Monday morning at Belka MC High School’s premises in Belka union.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initiative is part of the School Led Community Resilience Disaster and Climate Risks (SLCR DCR) Project, funded by Muslim Aid UK Bangladesh Country Office and implemented by SKS Foundation.
Md. Masudur Rahman, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate, attended the event as the chief guest, while Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md. Jahedul Islam participated as the special guest. The chief guest expressed gratitude to SKS Foundation and its partners for supporting students with essential materials to help continue their education during natural disasters like floods and heavy rainfall.
Project manager Afroza Bulbul highlighted that numerous schools in six unions-Tarapur, Belka, Horipur, Chandipur, Sreepur, and Kapasia-are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters due to their proximity to the Teesta River. Frequent flooding often forces schools to close, disrupting students’ academic progress.
To address these challenges, SKS Foundation is working to make five schools in these unions more disaster-resilient through infrastructure renovations and the provision of emergency educational support, Bulbul stated. “All 713 students from the selected schools have received these disaster-tolerant materials, ensuring they can continue their education with fewer disruptions during emergencies,” she added.
The event also featured speeches from prominent social workers Prof Mazedul Islam, Mahmudul Islam Pramanik, and project manager Afroza Bulbul. Ahsan Habib Khokon, the head teacher of Belka MC High School, presided over the ceremony. All beneficiary students, their guardians, teachers, invited persons, local dignitaries, and journalists were present on the occasion.