Meherjan

 

Unit: 2; Lesson: 1; The Greed of The Mighty Rivers

Greed= লোভ

Greedy = লোভী 

Mighty = শক্তিশালী 

17 February 2026

Noor E Alam, Univesity of Dhaka 

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 finally claimed her 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 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.

নিচে অনুচ্ছেদটির বাংলা অর্থ দেওয়া হলো—

মেহেরজান সিরাজগঞ্জ শহর রক্ষা বাঁধের ওপর একটি বস্তিতে বাস করে। যমুনা নদী থেকে আসা ফিসফিসে হাওয়া আগুনটিকে অস্থির করে তোলে। দুলতে থাকা আগুনের শিখা তার জীবনের অশান্তির কথা মেহেরজানকে মনে করিয়ে দেয়। খুব বেশি দিন আগেও মেহেরজানের সবকিছুই ছিল—একটি পরিবার, চাষযোগ্য জমি ও গবাদিপশু। যমুনা নদীর ভাঙন ধীরে ধীরে তার সমস্ত জমিজমা গ্রাস করে নেয়। শেষ পর্যন্ত গত বর্ষায় নদীটি তার একমাত্র আশ্রয়টুকুও কেড়ে নেয়। মাত্র একদিনেই নদীটি গিলে ফেলে মেহেরজানের ঘরবাড়ি, গাছপালা, সবজি বাগান এবং বাঁশঝাড়। একসময় তার সুখী পরিবার ছিল। বছরের পর বছর ধরে নির্মম ক্ষুধা ও দারিদ্র্য যে রোগব্যাধি নিয়ে এসেছিল, তাতে সে তার স্বামী ও পরিবারের সদস্যদের হারিয়েছে। এখন ক্ষতি আর যন্ত্রণাকে বুকে নিয়ে বেঁচে থাকার জন্য সে একাই রয়ে গেছে। লোভী যমুনা তার স্বপ্ন ও সুখ চূর্ণ করে দিয়েছে। মেহেরজানের মতো একই পরিণতির অপেক্ষায় রয়েছে আরও হাজারো মানুষ।

বাংলাদেশ নদীমাতৃক দেশ। যার কিছু নদীর তীর বর্ষাকালে উপচে পড়ে বা ভেঙে যায়। নদীভাঙন নদীতীরবর্তী মানুষের জন্য এক নির্মম বাস্তবতা। প্রতি বর্ষায় যমুনা, পদ্মা ও মেঘনার মতো প্রভাবশালী নদীগুলোর কারণে আরও অনেক গ্রাম হুমকির মুখে পড়ে। ধারণা করা হয়, বাংলাদেশে প্রতি বছর নদীভাঙনের ফলে অন্তত এক লাখ মানুষ গৃহহীন হয়। প্রকৃতপক্ষে, জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের ফলে সৃষ্ট প্রধান বিপদগুলোর একটি হলো নদীভাঙন। যদি আমরা জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের সঙ্গে খাপ খাওয়ানোর জন্য দ্রুত ব্যবস্থা নিতে না পারি, তবে প্রতি বছর আমাদের শহর ও গ্রামে আরও হাজার হাজার মেহেরজানের জন্ম হবে।

50 Pieces Vocabulary with 

Synonym and Antonym

Parts of Speech

1

Slum

বস্তি

shanty

suburb

Noun

2

Embankment

বাঁধ

dam

hollow

Noun

3

Whispering

ফিসফিসে

murmuring

loud

Adjective

4

Unsteady

অস্থির

unstable

steady

Adjective

5

Dancing

দুলতে থাকা

flickering

still

Adjective

6

Flames

আগুনের শিখা

fire

ash

Noun

7

Remind

স্মরণ করানো

recall

forget

Verb

8

Turmoil

অশান্তি

chaos

peace

Noun

9

Arable

চাষযোগ্য

fertile

barren

Adjective

10

Gradually

ধীরে ধীরে

slowly

suddenly

Adverb

11

Consumed

গ্রাস করেছে

devoured

saved

Verb

12

Property

সম্পত্তি

possession

poverty

Noun

13

Claimed

কেড়ে নিয়েছে

seized

returned

Verb

14

Shelter

আশ্রয়

refuge

exposure

Noun

15

Monsoon

বর্ষাকাল

rainy season

drought

Noun

16

Devour

গিলে ফেলা

swallow

spare

Verb

17

Vegetable

শাকসবজি

greens

meat

Noun

18

Bamboo bush

বাঁশঝাড়

grove

desert

Noun

19

Lost

হারিয়েছে

missed

found

Verb

20

Diseases

রোগব্যাধি

illness

health

Noun

21

Cruel

নিষ্ঠুর

harsh

kind

Adjective

22

Hunger

ক্ষুধা

starvation

fullness

Noun

23

Poverty

দারিদ্র্য

misery

wealth

Noun

24

Pain

যন্ত্রণা

suffering

comfort

Noun

25

Greedy

লোভী

selfish

generous

Adjective

26

Shattered

চূর্ণ করেছে

destroyed

repaired

Verb

27

Dreams

স্বপ্ন

hopes

despair

Noun

28

Fate

পরিণতি

destiny

choice

Noun

29

Rivers

নদীগুলো

streams

deserts

Noun

30

Overflow

উপচে পড়া

flood

drain

Verb

31

Erode

ভেঙে যাওয়া

wear away

build

Verb

32

Harsh

কঠোর

severe

mild

Adjective

33

Reality

বাস্তবতা

truth

illusion

Noun

34

Threatened

হুমকির মুখে

endangered

protected

Verb

35

Mighty

শক্তিশালী

powerful

weak

Adjective

36

Estimated

ধারণা করা হয়

assumed

proven

Verb

37

Homeless

গৃহহীন

shelterless

housed

Adjective

38

Dangers

বিপদ

risks

safety

Noun

39

Climate

জলবায়ু

weather

—

Noun

40

Change

পরিবর্তন

alteration

stability

Noun

41

Prompt

দ্রুত

immediate

delayed

Adjective

42

Actions

পদক্ষেপ

steps

neglect

Noun

43

Adapt

খাপ খাওয়ানো

adjust

resist

Verb

44

Waiting

অপেক্ষমাণ

expecting

leaving

Verb

45

Share

ভাগ করা

divide

keep

Verb

46

Threat

হুমকি

danger

assurance

Noun

47

Monsoon floods

বর্ষার বন্যা

deluge

drought

Noun

48

Landless

ভূমিহীন

dispossessed

landed

Adjective

49

Survival

বেঁচে থাকা

existence

death

Noun

50

Victim

শিকার

sufferer

victor

Noun

50 Pieces MCQ

Based on the Text (1–20)

Where does Meherjan live?a) In a villageb) On the Sirajganj Town Protection Embankmentc) Beside the Padma Riverd) In a city house

Which river caused erosion in Meherjan’s life?a) Padmab) Meghnac) Jamunad) Karnafuli

What makes the fire unsteady?a) Heavy rainb) Whispering windc) Cold weatherd) Darkness

The dancing flames remind Meherjan of her—a) happinessb) childhoodc) turmoil in lifed) success

What did Meherjan have before erosion?a) Only cattleb) A family and landc) A jobd) A boat

What consumed Meherjan’s land?a) Floodb) Stormc) River erosiond) Earthquake

When was her shelter destroyed?a) During winterb) During summerc) During last monsoond) During spring

How long did the river take to devour her house?a) One weekb) One monthc) One dayd) One year

What did Meherjan lose over the years?a) Friendsb) Wealthc) Husband and familyd) Job

What caused diseases in her family?a) Cold weatherb) Hunger and povertyc) Flood waterd) Old age

Who is left alive now?a) Meherjan and her sonb) Meherjan onlyc) Her husbandd) Her parents

How is the Jamuna described in the text?a) Calmb) Peacefulc) Greedyd) Gentle

Bangladesh is called—a) A land of forestsb) A land of hillsc) A land of riversd) A land of deserts

Which season causes most erosion?a) Winterb) Summerc) Monsoond) Autumn

Which rivers are mentioned in the text?a) Jamuna onlyb) Jamuna and Padmac) Jamuna, Padma and Meghnad) Padma and Meghna

How many people become homeless every year due to erosion?a) 10,000b) 50,000c) 100,000d) 1,000,000

River erosion is related to—a) Industrializationb) Climate changec) Urbanizationd) Population growth

What will happen if prompt action is not taken?a) Less erosionb) More riversc) More Meherjansd) Less poverty

The word “harsh” means—a) Gentleb) Cruelc) Softd) Kind

The passage mainly highlights—a) City lifeb) River beautyc) River erosion and sufferingd) Tourism

Synonyms (21–30)

Synonym of turmoil is—a) Peaceb) Calmc) Chaosd) Silence

Synonym of devour is—a) Protectb) Swallowc) Saved) Repair

Synonym of harsh is—a) Mildb) Gentlec) Severed) Soft

Synonym of poverty is—a) Wealthb) Richnessc) Miseryd) Comfort

Synonym of mighty is—a) Weakb) Smallc) Powerfuld) Thin

Synonym of shelter is—a) Exposureb) Refugec) Dangerd) Risk

Synonym of greedy is—a) Generousb) Selfishc) Kindd) Honest

Synonym of estimated is—a) Provedb) Measuredc) Assumedd) Shown

Synonym of threatened is—a) Protectedb) Endangeredc) Savedd) Helped

Synonym of adapt is—a) Resistb) Adjustc) Destroyd) Ignore

Antonyms (31–40)

Antonym of cruel is—a) Harshb) Kindc) Roughd) Severe

Antonym of poverty is—a) Hungerb) Miseryc) Wealthd) Pain

Antonym of homeless is—a) Shelterlessb) Poorc) Housedd) Landless

Antonym of unsteady is—a) Weakb) Stablec) Shakyd) Loose

Antonym of greedy is—a) Selfishb) Generousc) Crueld) Proud

Antonym of harsh is—a) Roughb) Severec) Mildd) Strong

Antonym of loss is—a) Painb) Damagec) Gaind) Sorrow

Antonym of danger is—a) Riskb) Threatc) Safetyd) Fear

Antonym of destroy is—a) Breakb) Harmc) Buildd) Damage

Antonym of hungry is—a) Starvingb) Weakc) Fulld) Poor

Parts of Speech (41–50)

The word “whispering” is a—a) Nounb) Verbc) Adjectived) Adverb

The word “erosion” is a—a) Verbb) Nounc) Adjectived) Adverb

The word “gradually” is a—a) Nounb) Verbc) Adjectived) Adverb

The word “greedy” is a—a) Nounb) Verbc) Adjectived) Adverb

The word “devour” is a—a) Nounb) Verbc) Adjectived) Preposition

The word “poverty” is a—a) Verbb) Adjectivec) Nound) Adverb

The word “mighty” is a—a) Nounb) Pronounc) Adjectived) Verb

The word “adapt” is a—a) Nounb) Verbc) Adjectived) Adverb

The word “homeless” is a—a) Nounb) Verbc) Adjectived) Conjunction

The word “pain” is a—a) Verbb) Adjectivec) Nound) Adverb

Answer Key (1–50):

b, 2. c, 3. b, 4. c, 5. b, 6. c, 7. c, 8. c, 9. c, 10. b,

b, 12. c, 13. c, 14. c, 15. c, 16. c, 17. b, 18. c, 19. b, 20. c,

c, 22. b, 23. c, 24. c, 25. c, 26. b, 27. b, 28. c, 29. b, 30. b,

b, 32. c, 33. c, 34. b, 35. b, 36. c, 37. c, 38. c, 39. c, 40. c,

c, 42. b, 43. d, 44. c, 45. b, 46. c, 47. c, 48. b, 49. c, 50. c

Answer the following questions.

1. Where does Meherjan live?

Answer:Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment beside the river Jamuna.

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

Answer:The dancing flames of the unsteady fire remind Meherjan of the turmoil and suffering in her life.

3. What did Meherjan have before river erosion?

Answer:Before river erosion, Meherjan had a happy family, arable land, cattle, and a secure shelter.

4. How did the Jamuna river destroy Meherjan’s life?

Answer:The Jamuna river gradually eroded all her land and finally devoured her house, trees, vegetable garden, and bamboo bush during the last monsoon.

5. What losses did Meherjan suffer over the years?

Answer:Over the years, Meherjan lost her husband and family members due to diseases caused by hunger and poverty.

6. Why is the Jamuna called “greedy” in the text?

Answer:The Jamuna is called “greedy” because it continuously erodes land and destroys homes, dreams, and livelihoods of people living on its banks.

7. Why is river erosion a harsh reality in Bangladesh?

Answer:River erosion is a harsh reality because Bangladesh is a riverine country where many rivers overflow or erode their banks during the monsoon every year.

8. How many people become homeless every year due to river erosion?

Answer:It is estimated that at least 100,000 people become homeless every year in Bangladesh due to river erosion.

9. Which rivers are mentioned as dangerous in the text?

Answer:The rivers mentioned as dangerous in the text are the Jamuna, the Padma, and the Meghna.

10. What warning does the writer give at the end of the passage?

Answer:The writer warns that if prompt actions are not taken to adapt to climate change, thousands more people like Meherjan will suffer and become homeless every year.

3. Fill in the blanks.

Passage–1

Meherjan lives in a ______ (a) on the Sirajganj Town Protection ______ (b). The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire ______ (c). The dancing flames remind her of the ______ (d) in her life. Once she had a happy ______ (e).

Passage–2

The Jamuna river gradually ______ (a) all the land of Meherjan. During the last ______ (b), it destroyed her only ______ (c). The river took only one ______ (d) to devour her house and garden. River ______ (e) is a common disaster in Bangladesh.

Passage–3

Bangladesh is a land of ______ (a). Many rivers overflow or erode their ______ (b) during the monsoon. River erosion is a harsh ______ (c) for the people living along the river ______ (d). Every year many people become ______ (e).

Passage–4

Meherjan lost her husband and family due to ______ (a) caused by hunger and ______ (b). Now she lives alone with deep ______ (c) and loss. The ______ (d) Jamuna has shattered her dreams and ______ (e).

Passage–5

River erosion makes at least 100,000 people ______ (a) every year in Bangladesh. It is one of the main dangers caused by ______ (b) change. If prompt ______ (c) are not taken, thousands of more people will suffer. Many villages are ______ (d) by mighty rivers like the Jamuna, Padma and ______ (e).

Answer Key:

Passage–1:(a) slum, (b) embankment, (c) unsteady, (d) turmoil, (e) family

Passage–2:(a) consumed, (b) monsoon, (c) shelter, (d) day, (e) erosion

Passage–3:(a) rivers, (b) banks, (c) reality, (d) banks, (e) homeless

Passage–4:(a) diseases, (b) poverty, (c) pain, (d) greedy, (e) happiness

Passage–5:(a) homeless, (b) climate, (c) actions, (d) threatened, (e) Meghna