The Greed of the Mighty Rivers | Meherjan

A. Read the following text and answer the questions.

Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life.

Not long ago Meherjan had everything-a family, arable land and cattle. The erosion of the Jamuna gradually consumed all her land property. It claimed her finally only shelter during the last monsoon. It took the river only a day to devour Meher’s house, trees, vegetable garden and the bamboo bush. She had a happy family once. Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family. Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and the pain. The greedy Jamuna has shattered her dreams and happiness.

There are thousand others waiting to share the same fate like Meherjan. Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. During each monsoon many more villages are threatened by the mighty rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. If we can’t take prompt actions to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands of more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year.

Vocabulary List with Bengali Meanings

Paragraph 1

• lives – বাস করে
• slum – বস্তি
• protection – সুরক্ষা
• embankment – বাঁধ
• whispering – মৃদু ফিসফিস শব্দ
• makes – করে
• unsteady – অস্থির
• dancing flames – নাচতে থাকা শিখা
• remind – মনে করিয়ে দেয়
• turmoil – অস্থিরতা / দুর্দশা

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Paragraph 2

• not long ago – বেশিদিন আগে নয়
• everything – সবকিছু
• family – পরিবার
• arable land – আবাদযোগ্য জমি
• cattle – গবাদিপশু
• erosion – ভাঙন
• gradually – ধীরে ধীরে
• consumed – গ্রাস করেছে
• property – সম্পত্তি
• finally – শেষ পর্যন্ত
• claimed – কেড়ে নিয়েছে
• shelter – আশ্রয়
• monsoon – বর্ষাকাল
• devour – গিলে ফেলা / ধ্বংস করা
• house – বাড়ি
• trees – গাছ
• vegetable garden – সবজির বাগান
• bamboo bush – বাঁশঝাড়
• happy – সুখী
• once – একসময়
• over the years – বছর ধরে
• lost – হারিয়েছে
• diseases – রোগব্যাধি
• cruel – নিষ্ঠুর
• hunger – ক্ষুধা
• poverty – দারিদ্র্য
• brought – এনেছে
• the only one left – একমাত্র বেঁচে থাকা
• loss – ক্ষতি
• pain – যন্ত্রণ
• greedy – লোভী
• shattered – ভেঙে দিয়েছে
• dreams – স্বপ্ন
• happiness – সুখ

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Paragraph 3

• thousands – হাজার হাজার
• waiting – অপেক্ষা করছে
• share – ভাগাভাগি করা / সম্মুখীন হওয়া
• fate – পরিণতি / ভাগ্য
• banks – নদীর পাড়
• overflow – উপচে পড়া
• erode – ক্ষয় হওয়া / ভেঙে যাওয়া
• harsh – কঠিন
• reality – বাস্তবতা
• people living along – যাঁরা পাশে থাকে
• threatened – হুমকির মুখে
• mighty – প্রবল / শক্তিশালী
• estimated – অনুমান করা হয়
• homeless – গৃহহীন
• every year – প্রতি বছর
• dangers – বিপদসমূহ
• caused – সৃষ্ট
• climate change – জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন
• important actions – জরুরি পদক্ষেপ
• adapt – খাপ খাওয়া
• future – ভবিষ্যৎ
• thousands more – আরও হাজার হাজার
• villages – গ্রাম

**বাংলা অনুবাদ

Lesson 1: The Greed of the Mighty Rivers**

A. নিচের পাঠ্যটি পড়ো এবং প্রশ্নগুলোর উত্তর দাও।

মেহেরজান সিরাজগঞ্জ টাউন প্রোটেকশন বাঁধের ওপর একটি বস্তিতে থাকে। যমুনা নদীর দিক থেকে আসা ফিসফাস করা বাতাস আগুনটাকে অস্থির করে তোলে। নাচতে থাকা শিখাগুলো মেহেরজানের জীবনের অস্থিরতার কথা তাকে মনে করিয়ে দেয়।

কিছুদিন আগেও মেহেরজানের সবকিছু ছিল—একটি পরিবার, আবাদযোগ্য জমি এবং গবাদিপশু। যমুনা নদীর ভাঙন ধীরে ধীরে তার সব জমিজমা গ্রাস করে নেয়। শেষ পর্যন্ত নদী গত বর্ষাকালে তার একমাত্র আশ্রয়টুকুও কেড়ে নেয়। নদী মাত্র একদিনেই মেহেরজানের বাড়ি, গাছ, সবজির বাগান এবং বাঁশঝাড় গিলে ফেলেছিল। একসময় তার সুখী পরিবার ছিল। বছরের পর বছর সে তার স্বামী ও পরিবারকে সেই নিষ্ঠুর ক্ষুধা ও দারিদ্র্যজনিত রোগে হারিয়েছে, যেগুলো পরিবারে এনেছিল। এখন সে-ই একমাত্র জীবিত, সেই ক্ষতি ও যন্ত্রণার সঙ্গে বেঁচে আছে। লোভী যমুনা তার স্বপ্ন ও সুখকে চূর্ণবিচূর্ণ করে দিয়েছে।

হাজারো মানুষ আছে যারা মেহেরজানের মতো একই ভাগ্য বরণ করতে অপেক্ষা করছে। বাংলাদেশ নদীমাতৃক দেশ, যার অনেক নদীর তীর প্রতি বর্ষায় উপচে পড়ে বা ভেঙে যায়। ভাঙন নদীর ধারে বসবাসকারী মানুষের জন্য এক কঠিন বাস্তবতা। প্রতি বর্ষায় আরও অনেক গ্রাম যমুনা, পদ্মা ও মেঘনার মতো প্রবল নদীর হুমকির মুখে পড়ে। অনুমান করা হয় যে নদীভাঙনে প্রতি বছর বাংলাদেশে অন্তত এক লক্ষ মানুষ গৃহহীন হয়। প্রকৃতপক্ষে, নদীভাঙন জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনজনিত প্রধান বিপদগুলোর একটি। যদি আমরা জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের সঙ্গে খাপ খাইয়ে নিতে জরুরি পদক্ষেপ না নিই, তাহলে প্রতি বছর হাজার হাজার মেহেরজান দেশের বিভিন্ন শহর ও গ্রামে দেখা দেবে।

B. For each phrase below choose the meaning that is closest to the meaning used in the text in A.

1. In paragraph 3 ‘mighty rivers’ mean

a. rivers that have huge volumes of water and very strong currents

b. rivers having many rowing boats in them

c. rivers that make people cry out

d. rivers that have strong banks

Answer: (a) rivers that have huge volumes of water and very strong currents

2. landed property

a. a rented piece of land

b. a piece of land on the bank of a river

c. property in the form of a source of income to its owner

d. property used only as an agricultural farm

Answer: (c) property in the form of a source of income to its owner

3. whispering wind

a. wind that blows from across the river

b. wind that blows with a hissing sound

c. wind that helps someone make a fire

d. wind that blows in summer

Answer: (b) wind that blows with a hissing sound

4. dancing flames

a. a traditional form of folk dance

b. flames that make people dance around them

c. flames that are made unstable by the blast of air

d. flames made by people to remember their past

Answer: (c) flames that are made unstable by the blast of air

More MCQs for practice

1. Where does Meherjan live now?

A. On a riverboat
B. In a slum on the Sirajgonj Embankment
C. In a city apartment
D. In her own village
Answer: B

2. What makes the fire unsteady?

A. Rainwater
B. The dancing flames
C. Whispering wind from the Jamuna
D. Smoke
Answer: C

3. What do the dancing flames remind Meherjan of?

A. Her village
B. Her past happiness
C. The turmoil in her life
D. Her neighbors
Answer: C

4. What did Meherjan have not long ago?

A. A shop
B. Everything—family, land, and cattle
C. A big house
D. A government job
Answer: B

5. What consumed all her land property?

A. Floodwater
B. Fire
C. The erosion of the Jamuna
D. A cyclone
Answer: C

6. What did the river claim during the last monsoon?

A. Her farm animals
B. Her only shelter
C. Her savings
D. Her children
Answer: B

7. How long did it take the river to destroy her house?

A. One week
B. One month
C. One day
D. Several days
Answer: C

8. Which of the following was NOT mentioned as washed away?

A. Her house
B. Vegetable garden
C. Trees
D. School building
Answer: D

9. What happened to her family over the years?

A. They moved away
B. They died from diseases caused by hunger and poverty
C. They became rich
D. They got government help
Answer: B

10. How is Meherjan described now?

A. Hopeful
B. Dependent
C. The only one left
D. Well‑supported
Answer: C

11. What has the Jamuna shattered?

A. Her pride
B. Her cattle
C. Her dreams and happiness
D. Her land only
Answer: C

12. What are thousands of others waiting to share?

A. The same fate
B. Relief goods
C. New houses
D. Job opportunities
Answer: A

13. Bangladesh is described as a land of ______.

A. Forests
B. Rivers
C. Mountains
D. Deserts
Answer: B

14. What happens to some riverbanks in monsoon?

A. They dry up
B. They overflow or erode
C. They freeze
D. They become wider
Answer: B

15. Erosion is described as a ______ reality.

A. Soft
B. Mixed
C. Harsh
D. Temporary
Answer: C

16. Who faces this harsh reality most?

A. City dwellers
B. People living along riverbanks
C. Tourists
D. Teachers
Answer: B

17. Which river is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. Jamuna
B. Padma
C. Meghna
D. Buriganga
Answer: D

18. What threatens many villages every monsoon?

A. Wildlife
B. Mighty rivers
C. Strong winds only
D. Earthquakes
Answer: B

19. How many people become homeless each year due to river erosion?

A. 10,000
B. 50,000
C. 100,000
D. 1,000,000
Answer: C

20. River erosion is one of the main dangers caused by ______.

A. Climate change
B. Traffic problems
C. Urbanization
D. Industrialization
Answer: A

21. If no action is taken, what will increase every year?

A. Storms
B. More Meherjans
C. Fish population
D. Tourist spots
Answer: B

22. What did hunger and poverty bring to Meherjan’s family?

A. Wealth
B. Diseases
C. Education
D. Food
Answer: B

23. What destroyed her bamboo bush?

A. Fire
B. Storm
C. River erosion
D. Animals
Answer: C

24. How was her family described before the erosion?

A. Poor and helpless
B. Happy
C. Scattered
D. Unknown
Answer: B

25. Why is Meherjan living alone now?

A. She chose to live alone
B. Her family migrated
C. Her family died
D. She became rich
Answer: C

26. Which phrase best describes the Jamuna in the passage?

A. Gentle and kind
B. Silent and calm
C. Greedy and destructive
D. Helpful and generous
Answer: C

27. What is one of the dangers caused by climate change?

A. More rainfall
B. River erosion
C. Tourism growth
D. Industrial expansion
Answer: B

28. What natural force took everything from Meherjan?

A. Earthquake
B. Tsunami
C. River erosion
D. Wild animals
Answer: C

29. What is threatening more villages each monsoon?

A. Roads
B. Factories
C. Mighty rivers
D. Local markets
Answer: C

30. What will happen if proper actions are not taken?

A. Rivers will dry
B. Cities will grow
C. Thousands more will become like Meherjan
D. Floods will stop
Answer: C

C. Ask and answer the following questions in pairs.

a. What does Meherjan use to make fire for cooking her meals?

Meherjan uses jute sticks to make fire for cooking her meals.

b. What property did Meherjan lose due to river erosion?

Meherjan lost her house and all her property, including her land, due to river erosion.

c. What do you know about Meherjan’s family?

Meherjan is a widow. Her husband died of disease two years ago.

d. In which season is river erosion most likely to occur?

River erosion is most likely to occur during the monsoon or rainy season when rivers swell with water.

e. Why is the phrase ‘greedy Jamuna’ used to describe the river? What greed do you notice in the description?

The phrase ‘greedy Jamuna’ is used because the river has eroded and swallowed up houses, land, and property. The “greed” refers to the river’s relentless and destructive consumption of everything in its path.

More Questions and Answers

1. Where does Meherjan live now?

She lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment.

2. What reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her life?

The dancing flames of the fire remind her of the turmoil in her life.

3. What kind of life did Meherjan once have?

She once had a happy life with a family, arable land, and cattle.

4. What destroyed Meherjan’s land property?

The erosion of the Jamuna River destroyed her land property.

5. What did the river claim during the last monsoon?

The river claimed her only shelter.

6. How long did it take the river to devour Meherjan’s house and land?

It took only a day.

7. What things were washed away by the river?

Her house, trees, vegetable garden, and bamboo bush.

8. What happened to Meherjan’s family over the years?

She lost her husband and family to hunger and diseases.

9. Why is Meherjan the only one left now?

Because her family members died due to poverty and diseases.

10. What feelings does Meherjan live with now?

She lives with loss, pain, and shattered dreams.

11. What has the Jamuna River done to Meherjan’s happiness?

It has taken away her happiness by destroying her home and family.

12. How many others are at risk of suffering like Meherjan?

Thousands of others are at risk of suffering like Meherjan.

13. What type of country is Bangladesh described as in the text?

In the text, Bangladesh is described as a land of rivers.

14. What do some riverbanks in Bangladesh do during the monsoon?

Some riverbanks in Bangladesh overflow or erode during the monsoon.

15. Why is erosion a harsh reality for people living near rivers?

Erosion a harsh reality for people living near rivers because it destroys land, homes, and livelihoods.

16. Which rivers threaten villages during the monsoon?

The Jamuna, the Padma, and the Meghna threaten villages during the monsoon.

17. How many people become homeless yearly due to river erosion?

At least 100,000 peoplebecome homeless yearly due to river erosion.

18. What is one of the main dangers caused by climate change?

River erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change.

19. What will happen if proper actions are not taken?

More people like Meherjan will become homeless.

20. What natural event usually causes river erosion in Bangladesh?

The monsoon usually causes river erosion in Bangladesh.

21. Why did Meherjan’s condition worsen after the river erosion?

She lost her land, home, and later her family, leading to poverty.

22. What did Meherjan once grow on her land?

Meherjan once grew vegetables in her garden.

23. What term does the text use to describe the Jamuna River?

The text uses“Greedy Jamuna” to describe the Jamuna River.

24. How has erosion affected villages in Bangladesh?

Many villages are threatened or washed away each monsoon.

25. What did poverty bring to Meherjan’s family?

Answer: Poverty brought hunger and diseases to Meherjan’s family.

26. Why is Meherjan described as helpless?

Meherjan is described as helpless Because she has no family, home, or land left.

27. What is needed to prevent further erosion damage?

Proper actions to adapt to climate changeis needed to prevent further erosion damage.

28. Why is Meherjan’s story important?

It represents the suffering of thousands affected by river erosion.

29. What natural force is responsible for Meherjan’s misfortune?

The erosive power of the Jamuna River is responsible for Meherjan’s misfortune.

30. What message does the passage convey?

River erosion is a serious problem in Bangladesh that destroys lives, and urgent actions are needed to protect people.

Ask a Two Mothers Remembered: Answering questions from the poems for SSC Exam 2026-2027nd answer from Nobodoot

(a) Why is graffiti an important medium of revolutionary expression?

Graffiti is important because it lets people express revolutionary ideas publicly and challenge authority.

(b) What does the phrase “comforts the disturbed” mean in the passage?

It means graffiti gives hope and support to people who feel oppressed or troubled.

(c) Why does graffiti thrive on spontaneity and immediacy?

It thrives on spontaneity because it is created quickly to react to events and avoid being caught.

(d) How does graffiti maintain its anonymity?

Graffiti stays anonymous through quick work, hidden identities, and using tags instead of real names.

(e) How does graffiti connect past and present struggles for justice?

It connects past and present struggles by using old symbols and messages to show ongoing fights for justice.

(f) What is the significance of Jacques Derrida’s statement in the context of graffiti?

It shows that graffiti challenges fixed meanings and disrupts authority by creating new interpretations in public spaces.

(g) How did graffiti promote inclusivity during the July Uprising?

It gave marginalized groups a visible platform to express their voices.

(h) Why are spray‑painted slogans an effective tool of expressing dissent?

Because they are fast to create, bold, and easily noticed by the public.

(i) Analyze the role of graffiti in raising awareness about social injustices.

Graffiti exposes injustices in public places where everyone can see the message.

(j) How does graffiti differ from other forms of revolutionary art?

It is more immediate, public, and often created anonymously.

(k) Evaluate the impact of graffiti in fostering collective consciousness.

Graffiti unites people by spreading shared symbols and messages of struggle.

(l) How does graffiti ‘disturb the comfortable’?

It confronts privileged groups with uncomfortable truths they often ignore.

(m) Imagine you were part of the July Uprising. How would you use graffiti to express dissent?

By painting bold messages to inspire unity and spread resistance.

(n) Compare graffiti during the July Uprising to other historical movements.

Both used powerful symbols and short messages to motivate action.

(o) How does graffiti embody resilience in the face of oppression?

It shows that people continue to speak out even when silenced or threatened.

(p) Discuss the ethical implications of unsanctioned graffiti as a form of protest.

Concerns include property damage and potential misuse of public space.

(q) Propose an alternative medium to graffiti for expressing dissent.

Social media art or posters can spread dissent legally and widely.

(r) How does graffiti foster solidarity among diverse communities?

It gives them shared messages, identities, and symbols of resistance.

(s) What caused graffiti to become a powerful tool during the July Uprising?

Its speed, visibility, and emotional impact made it highly influential.

(t) What are the effects of graffiti on public awareness during political movements?

It increases awareness by making bold messages unavoidable in daily life.

(u) How does the anonymity of graffiti artists affect the medium’s impact?

It shifts focus to the message and protects artists from punishment.

(v) Why does graffiti thrive in politically unstable environments?

People look for urgent, accessible ways to express anger and hope.

(w) How does censorship influence the content of graffiti?

It removes messages and pressures artists to hide their ideas.

(x) What are the consequences of graffiti’s resilience in revolutionary contexts?

It keeps resistance alive even when authorities try to erase it.

(y) What are the effects of slogans like ‘Ek dofa, ek dab!’ during uprisings?

They energize crowds and strengthen unity.

(z) How does graffiti address the struggles of the marginalized?

By giving them a direct, public voice.

(z1) What happens when graffiti is erased by authorities?

It attempts to silence dissent and erase collective memory.

(z2) Compare the July Uprising’s graffiti with modern digital protests.

Graffiti uses physical spaces; digital protests use hashtags and online art.

(z3) How does graffiti differ from organized political campaigns?

It is spontaneous, anonymous, and driven by ordinary people.

(z4) Contrast the risks and rewards of graffiti as a medium for dissent.

Risks include arrest; rewards include empowerment and public visibility.