Flood Ravaged Areas: Farmers fear the worst

Farmers in flood-hit areas of the north and north-eastern districts are fearful of incurring huge losses as vast croplands have been inundated over the last couple of days.

The crops include Jute, Aush paddy, vegetable, grains, and seedbeds of Aman paddy.

On the one hand, their houses have been washed away and on the other, their crops are at risk of being damaged. So, the flash flood has emerged as a double blow for them.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said some portion of the crops can be saved, if floodwater recedes quickly. But almost all the crops will be damaged if water stays for one week.

Meanwhile, an eight-year-old boy drowned in flood water on Monday in Kurigram.

In Bogura, some 7,868 hectares of cropland have been inundated in Sariakandi, Sonatala, and Dhunat upazilas.

Farmers cultivated jute and planted seeds of Aman and Aush paddy in these land.

If the water does not recede within a week, almost all the crop will be damaged, according to local agriculture officials.

Some 61,000 people have been directly affected. Many are enduring untold hardships as their houses have been washed away by floodwater.

"My house along with 10 decimals of land has been washed away by floodwater five days ago. Now, I have become completely helpless," said Basanti Rani, a resident of Sujauler Para area under Sariakandi upazila.

In Gaibandha, some 3,570 hectares of croplands were inundated in Sadar, Sundarganj, Saghata and Fulchari upazilas.

Over 1 lakh people are directed affected by flood in these areas. Around 22,000 houses been damaged, said AKM Idris Ali, district relief and rehabilitation officer.

In Lalmonirhat, over 550 hectares of croplands have been submerged in the mainland. Apart from this, vast areas of cropland of island areas have been submerged.

The damage to croplands of these islands cannot be assessed immediately, said Shamim Ashraf, deputy director of the Lalmonirhat DAE office.

Mobarak Ali, a farmer of Harinchara Majherchar under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said, "I cultivated groundnut on 10 bighas of land. I had to invest around Tk 70,000. But all the crops have been damaged by floodwater just one week before harvesting."

In Jamalpur, over 6,000 hectares of croplands have been inundated in the district in the last couple of days.

The crops include jute, Aush paddy, vegetables, sesame and seedbeds of Aman paddy, said local agriculture officer.

Over 2.5 lakh people remained waterlogged in low-lying areas of the district. Officials of local administration said relief distribution has started.

Dewanganj upazila nirbahir officer (UNO) said she had distributed 300 masks and 100 bars of soap among the flood-hit people to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In Sylhet, around 5,800 hectares of Aush paddy land were submerged in the flash flood, said Salah Uddin, deputy director of DAE in the district.

"I cultivated two hectares of Aush this year. But the paddy land is submerged and I am in fear of incurring losses," said Enam Uddin, a farmer of Alirgaon union of Gowainghat upazila.

In Sunamganj, around 2,700 hectares of Aush and vegetable farmlands have been submerged.

Ahmed Hossain, a farmer of Afzalabad union of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj, said, "I have around an acre of vegetables of different types, and as the land is submerged, I am fearing complete loss."

In Kurigram, an eight-year-old boy drowned in floodwater at Paschim Mollapara village under Nageshwari upazila on Monday afternoon.

The victim was identified as Belal Hossain, son of Amir Hossain of the same village.

"The boy went to a nearby shop to buy biscuits. While returning home, he suddenly fell into the canal near his house and drowned quickly," said Mostafa Mollah, a relative of the victim.

Locals found his body in the bushes beside the canal. The body was later recovered and buried at the local Dhakdohar graveyard in the afternoon.

Officer-in-charge of Kachakata Police Station Mamunur Rashid confirmed the incident.

Our correspondents from Bogura, Lalmonirhat, Jamalpur, and Sylhet contributed to this report.