Farmers call for permanent solution to flood protection issue

A two-kilometre stretch of the flood protection embankment near Rautara Sluice Gate in Baghabari area, Shahzadpur upazila, Sirajganj, has remained unprotected after a portion of the embankment was eroded by floodwaters in the 1990s.

As a result, around 62,000 hectares of cropland in the Chalanbeel region remain at risk of flooding during the monsoon, just before the paddy harvest.

To protect the crops, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Sirajganj has been constructing a temporary ring embankment with sand piling along the unprotected stretch before harvest time each monsoon for the last few years.

As in previous years, BWDB completed the construction of a 1,200-metre temporary ring embankment last month at a cost of Tk 2.51 crore.

The temporary ring embankment prevents monsoon water from flooding cropland in the Chalanbeel region.

Once the paddy harvest is complete, locals demolish the embankment to fish in the surrounding water bodies, as they do every year around June.

Although this temporary structure is essential for protecting crops from flooding, it results in public funds being spent each year to construct an embankment that is later dismantled within a couple of months.

A permanent structure would resolve the issue, said locals.

"When the Jamuna starts swelling in April-May, the water level rises in its tributaries, the Boral and Dholai rivers, causing water to enter cropland across the Chalanbeel region through Rautara Sluice Gate," said Md Abdus Samad, a resident of Rautara village.

"The temporary ring embankment restricts early monsoon water from entering the cropland, allowing us to harvest paddy safely. However, due to the lack of a permanent protection, we cannot cultivate two or three crops in the cropland," he added.

BWDB officials in Sirajganj stated that the Jamuna's water level had risen by two metres since the end of April due to excessive rainfall upstream.

"The swelling Jamuna has caused the water level of the Boral River to rise as well. However, the Jamuna is still three metres below the danger level, so there is no immediate concern," said Md Imtiaz Hossain, assistant engineer at BWDB Sirajganj.

"The construction of the 1,200-metre ring embankment at Rautara was completed last month, before the flow of water increased in the rivers, ensuring farmers can harvest their crops before floodwaters can reach the cropland," he added.

"This temporary embankment saves around 62,000 hectares of cropland in seven upazilas across three districts in the Chalanbeel region, which is why BWDB constructs it every year for the benefit of farmers," Imtiaz said.

"After the crop harvest, fishermen and locals demolish the temporary embankment to fish in the Chalanbeel wetlands," said Md Abdul Mazid of Nada village in Ullapara upazila, Sirajganj.

"However, BWDB could avoid spending crores of taka every year on this temporary structure if it opted for a permanent embankment with necessary sluice gates, bridges, and pumping stations to control floodwaters," he added.

Md Mokhlesur Rahman, executive engineer of BWDB in Sirajganj, confirmed that a feasibility study for a permanent embankment in the area is underway.

"While the temporary ring embankment is necessary, constructing it every year is a waste of public funds," he said.

"BWDB recognises the need for a permanent structure for flood protection and is working on it. Once the feasibility study is completed, we will initiate a project for its construction," Mokhlesur Rahman added.