Read the following text carefully. Then answer the questions 1, 2 and 3 :
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 properly. 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 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.

উত্তরঃ

Meherjan lives in a slum near the Jamuna River. She lives there because her home and property were destroyed by river erosion, leaving her with no other place to go.

---

Meherjan is a character from a lesson commonly found in English textbooks for secondary level students, illustrating the devastating impact of river erosion in Bangladesh. River erosion is a severe natural disaster that annually displaces thousands of people, forcing them into poverty and homelessness. Meherjan's narrative reflects the grim reality faced by many who lose their homes and livelihoods to the relentless erosion of rivers, compelling them to seek refuge in overcrowded urban slums where life is often fraught with immense hardship and struggle.

উত্তরঃ Meherjan had a small family and some cultivable land with a house.

---

Before the devastating river erosion, Meherjan was not destitute. She lived a simple life with her family, which included her husband and children, in a small house on the bank of the Jamuna River. They also possessed some cultivable land, which provided them with a source of income and livelihood. However, the relentless force of the river's erosion gradually claimed her home, her land, and eventually, her entire family, rendering her utterly homeless and impoverished.

উত্তরঃ

Her house and all her possessions.

---

Meherjan, a victim of river erosion, lost her home and all her belongings to the destructive force of the river within a single day. The relentless current of the river eroded the land, causing her modest dwelling and everything she owned to be swept away. This tragic event left her utterly destitute and homeless, highlighting the severe challenges faced by those living in vulnerable areas prone to natural disasters like riverbank erosion.

উত্তরঃ

The lives of people living near big rivers in Bangladesh are often marked by a tragic fate, mirroring that of Meherjan, a common literary representation of river erosion victims. Their existence is perpetually threatened by the relentless forces of nature, leading to a cycle of loss, displacement, and struggle.

Much like Meherjan, who likely lost her home, land, and possibly family members to river erosion, countless riverine inhabitants face similar devastating consequences. The mighty rivers, while being sources of life and livelihood, paradoxically become agents of destruction during the monsoon season. Erosion gradually or suddenly engulfs their homesteads, agricultural lands, and even entire villages, rendering them homeless and landless overnight. This forced displacement shatters their social fabric and economic stability.

The shared fate extends beyond mere physical loss. These people, like Meherjan, are often pushed into extreme poverty, forced to migrate to urban slums or seek refuge on embankments, where they live in abject conditions. They lose their traditional livelihoods, such as farming or fishing, and struggle to find new means of sustenance. The psychological trauma of losing everything, coupled with the constant threat of further erosion, leaves them in a state of chronic vulnerability and despair, highlighting a profound sense of helplessness against nature's might.

Therefore, the plight of people living near big rivers is intrinsically linked to Meherjan's fate. They are all victims of geographical vulnerability and inadequate protection, enduring a life defined by insecurity, recurrent displacement, and an ongoing battle for survival against the harsh realities of their environment.

উত্তরঃ To mitigate its devastating impacts and secure a sustainable future for all.

---

Climate change leads to severe consequences such as rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events like floods and droughts, and increased threats to food security and public health. Taking prompt actions to adapt helps reduce the vulnerability of communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems to these changes. It allows us to build resilience, develop sustainable solutions, and protect biodiversity, ultimately safeguarding human well-being and economic stability for future generations.