Staff Reporter :
Incessant rain and onrush of waters from the upstream have washed away thousands of hectares of Boro paddy fields in haor areas of Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Netrokona districts.
Over 1.50 lakhs hectares of Boro paddy fields of these districts, scheduled to harvest by mid April and May, have already been washed away.
Farmers are worried as their livelihood hinges merely on Boro paddy.
They also fear an irreparable loss of boro paddy if waters do not recede from croplands within the next four to five days.
Meanwhile, Sushen Miah, 40, a farmer of Rahmatganj village under Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj district, on Wednesday afternoon went to his field and saw strong current washing away his paddy. He became senseless and died of heart attack on the spot at about 5.30 pm yesterday.
The incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters have breached embankments and flooded the paddy fields over the last few days.
Locals alleged the water flow has been inundating the low-lying areas through Bijoy and other embankment constructed between Habiganj and Kishoreganj districts.
Besides, many small and large embankments were also damaged due to strong current and the broken parts are now being extended, as the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to repair it, the farmers alleged.
Hundreds of farmers have blamed poor construction of embankments for their plight and have made an urgent call to the authorities to take immediate measures to reconstruct the damaged embankments before the rest paddy fields go under water.
On Wednesday, farmers, local people and lawyers staged demonstrations and formed human chain in front of the Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner office demanding immediate step by the authorities concerned.
They also demanded exemplary punishment for what they termed ‘corrupt’ officials of
Bangladesh Water Development Board and the contractors responsible for the damage of the embankments.
“I cultivated Boro paddy on my four bighas of land, but all these have been washed away. We were waiting to start harvesting Boro paddy with high hopes of bumper production. But our dreams have faded away. We know nothing how and in what way we will lead our lives,” Mohammad Alim Mia, a farmer of Sunamganj district said.
When contacted, SK Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj district said many crop have lands washed away.
“The district administration has already started working to repair the damage round the clock. It is very shocking when farmers are numbering days to harvest their paddy, rain and onrush of hilly waters have destroyed their crops,” he said.
Replying to a query about corruption by the officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board as well as the contractors for poor construction of embankments, he said they have taken the issue seriously.
“If any official or contractor is found guilty in constructing the embankment, will not be spared,” he said.
Our Kishoreganj Correspondent adds; the farmers had earlier apprised the authorities of the problem, but no measures had been taken.
About 18 thousands hectares of Boro paddy fields of Austagram, Mithamain and upazilas of Kishoreganj district remained under water.
As a result, hundreds of farmers have become helpless as they will not be able to harvest their only crops Boro paddy.
“Heavy rain in the last few days as well as on rush of hilly waters destroyed our green paddy field. Besides, the continuous rain also washed away our other crop lands,” Akter Uddin, a farmer of Mojlishpur village under Nikli Upazila of Kishoreganj district told The New Nation on Wednesday.
He added onrush of waters from the upstream has deteriorated the situation further.
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, a farmer of village Dhanpur under Itna upazila said the Bijoy embankment has been breached due to poor construction by the Water Development Board.
“Now the water is entering the paddy fields. If repair on the embankment doesn’t start immediately, we will loss everything. And there is a possibility that another flood will also wash out all our houses and belongings,” he said.
Kishoreganj-4 constituency MP Rezwan Ahmed Towfik, who visited the area on Wednesday, urged the government to declare the haors as disaster area.
Incessant rain and onrush of waters from the upstream have washed away thousands of hectares of Boro paddy fields in haor areas of Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Netrokona districts.
Over 1.50 lakhs hectares of Boro paddy fields of these districts, scheduled to harvest by mid April and May, have already been washed away.
Farmers are worried as their livelihood hinges merely on Boro paddy.
They also fear an irreparable loss of boro paddy if waters do not recede from croplands within the next four to five days.
Meanwhile, Sushen Miah, 40, a farmer of Rahmatganj village under Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj district, on Wednesday afternoon went to his field and saw strong current washing away his paddy. He became senseless and died of heart attack on the spot at about 5.30 pm yesterday.
The incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters have breached embankments and flooded the paddy fields over the last few days.
Locals alleged the water flow has been inundating the low-lying areas through Bijoy and other embankment constructed between Habiganj and Kishoreganj districts.
Besides, many small and large embankments were also damaged due to strong current and the broken parts are now being extended, as the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to repair it, the farmers alleged.
Hundreds of farmers have blamed poor construction of embankments for their plight and have made an urgent call to the authorities to take immediate measures to reconstruct the damaged embankments before the rest paddy fields go under water.
On Wednesday, farmers, local people and lawyers staged demonstrations and formed human chain in front of the Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner office demanding immediate step by the authorities concerned.
They also demanded exemplary punishment for what they termed ‘corrupt’ officials of
Bangladesh Water Development Board and the contractors responsible for the damage of the embankments.
“I cultivated Boro paddy on my four bighas of land, but all these have been washed away. We were waiting to start harvesting Boro paddy with high hopes of bumper production. But our dreams have faded away. We know nothing how and in what way we will lead our lives,” Mohammad Alim Mia, a farmer of Sunamganj district said.
When contacted, SK Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj district said many crop have lands washed away.
“The district administration has already started working to repair the damage round the clock. It is very shocking when farmers are numbering days to harvest their paddy, rain and onrush of hilly waters have destroyed their crops,” he said.
Replying to a query about corruption by the officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board as well as the contractors for poor construction of embankments, he said they have taken the issue seriously.
“If any official or contractor is found guilty in constructing the embankment, will not be spared,” he said.
Our Kishoreganj Correspondent adds; the farmers had earlier apprised the authorities of the problem, but no measures had been taken.
About 18 thousands hectares of Boro paddy fields of Austagram, Mithamain and upazilas of Kishoreganj district remained under water.
As a result, hundreds of farmers have become helpless as they will not be able to harvest their only crops Boro paddy.
“Heavy rain in the last few days as well as on rush of hilly waters destroyed our green paddy field. Besides, the continuous rain also washed away our other crop lands,” Akter Uddin, a farmer of Mojlishpur village under Nikli Upazila of Kishoreganj district told The New Nation on Wednesday.
He added onrush of waters from the upstream has deteriorated the situation further.
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, a farmer of village Dhanpur under Itna upazila said the Bijoy embankment has been breached due to poor construction by the Water Development Board.
“Now the water is entering the paddy fields. If repair on the embankment doesn’t start immediately, we will loss everything. And there is a possibility that another flood will also wash out all our houses and belongings,” he said.
Kishoreganj-4 constituency MP Rezwan Ahmed Towfik, who visited the area on Wednesday, urged the government to declare the haors as disaster area.
