6,500 Hectares of Cropland Flooded in Sunamganj

Bangla Press Desk:   Continuous rainfall over the past few days has submerged thousands of hectares of ripened and semi-ripened Boro paddy across 12 upazilas in Sunamganj, while a leak in an under-construction embankment in Bishwambharpur has further intensified fears of widespread crop damage.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), around 6,500 hectares of cropland have gone under water due to excessive rain. 

Farmers said that Sadar, Shalla, Jagannathpur, Jamalganj, Dharmapasha, and Tahirpur upazilas are among the worst affected, where low-lying haor lands have been inundated.

Farmers are rushing to harvest partially ripened paddy amid concerns, but continuous rain has made it difficult to dry the crops. Many have stored harvested paddy in sacks covered with tarpaulins.

Meanwhile, water has started entering Khorchar haor through holes in the under-construction Harimon embankment in Bishwambharpur upazila, raising fresh concerns among farmers.

Locals said the embankment has weakened due to continuous rain and upstream hill water. The leakage was first detected near Radhanagar village on Tuesday morning, prompting visits by officials, including Sylhet Water Development Board (WDB) Sub-Divisional Engineer Zakir Hossain and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abdul Matin Khan.

Officials said water pressure from upstream hills entered the haor through the River Rupsha, worsening the situation.

WDB Executive Engineer Mamun Hawlader said the leak has been temporarily sealed and steps are underway to strengthen the embankment, adding that strict action will be taken against the contractor for any negligence. Source: daily Sun
BP/TD