The Greed of Mighty Rivers

Lesson 1: The Green of the Mighty Rivers
Meherjan lives in a slum(বস্তি) on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment(শহর সুরক্ষার জন্য দেয়া বাঁধের তীরে). The whispering(শোঁ শোঁ শব্দ) wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady(অস্থিতিশীল). The dancing flames(নৃত্যরত আগুনের শিখা) remind Meherjan of the turmoil(অশান্তি, দুর্দশা) in her life.

Not long ago, Meherjan had everything – a family, arable land(চাষযোগ্য জমি, আবাদী জমি), and cattle(গাভী, বাছুর). The erosion(ক্ষয়, ভূমিক্ষয়) of the Jamuna gradually(ধীরে ধীরে) consumed(গ্রাস করে ফেললো) all her land property(সহায় সম্পত্তি). It finally claimed(দাবি করলো, গ্রাস করলো, ধ্বংস করলো) her only shelter(আশ্রয়) during the last monsoon(গত বর্ষাকালে). It took the river only a day to devour(ভক্ষণ করতে, ধ্বংস করতে) Meher's house, trees, vegetable garden and the bamboo bush(বাঁশ ঝাড়). She had a happy family once. Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases(রোগে) that cruel(নির্দয়) hunger and poverty(দারিদ্র) brought to the family. Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and the pain. The greedy(লোভী) Jamuna has shattered(ছিন্ন-বিচ্ছিন্ন করে দিয়েছে) her dreams and happiness.
There are thousands others waiting to share the same fate(ভাগ্য) like Meherjan. Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks(তীর) overflow(প্লাবিত হয়) or erode(ক্ষয় হয়) during monsoon. Erosion(ক্ষয়, ভূমিক্ষয়) is a harsh(নির্মম) reality(বাস্তবতা) for the people living along the river banks(তীরবর্তীতে). During each monsoon many more villages are threatened(হুমকির সম্মু