In Bangladesh’s flooded plains, schools in boats keep learning afloat

(Corrects dateline to Oct 7 (not Oct 8) and removes PIX from the slug.)

By Sam Jahan and Ruma Paul

BHANGURA, Bangladesh (Reuters) -In flood-prone regions of Bangladesh, solar-powered “floating schools” ensure children do not miss class when rising waters cut off roads and villages.

One of them is 10-year-old Safikul Islam.

Each morning, he waits on the edge of his flooded village in Bhangura, western Bangladesh, for the solar-powered classroom that sails right to his doorstep.

His home lies deep in Chalan Beel, a sprawling 26-square-kilometre (10 sq miles) wetland where seasonal floods often cut off roads and submerge entire villages.

But for Islam and hundreds of other children, education floats. The initiative, launched in 2002 by architect Mohammed Rezwan using $500 of his scholar