Flash floods severely hit agricultural lands in Bangladesh
Recently, the increased water level of various rivers, including the Teesta River and Ghaghat River, caused sudden floods. As a result, many croplands got submerged in some northern districts, Bangladesh. Farmers are facing huge losses due to the submergence of crops.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Teesta water flows 60 cm above the danger level at Dowani Point of Teesta River. And broke the flood bypass of Teesta Barrage, and 44 gates of Teesta Barrage had to open, which caused the sufferings of many people living downstream of the barrage.
Many people from low-lying areas, including riverine chars, have taken shelter in high places. Agricultural land got submerged in several low-lying areas of the Laxmitari Union, including Charaisharkul, Ishli, East Ishli, West Ishli and Shankar, Bagerhat, Kellerhat.
Rahmat Ali, a 50-year-old farmer in Char Chalisa, said, “Potatoes will rot if they remain underwater. Though I planted it a few days ago, I have to pick it up now. Unbearable losses had happened; I didn’t know how to repay the moneylender’s loan. “
Another farmer Mansoor said, “Last time there was a lot of loss in potato, and so this time I tried to make up for the loss by cultivating potato in advance. But all dreams shattered.”
A few days ago, Halim Mia, a potato farmer from Char Chalapak, planted Romana hybrid potato seeds on 40 acres of land. He fears that if the potato seeds are not got picked from the land, everything will rot.
Meanwhile, another farmer Kamal Hossain has spent about TK. 20,000 just for planting seeds, which has almost ended after two days of continuous rains. All the crops planted by farmer Abdur Rahim Miah in the Bagerhat area of Laxmitari Union got submerged due to the sudden rise in Teesta water.
However, necessary steps got taken to replace the people of Tistapar, said Mosaddek Hossain, the Chairman of Morneya Union Parishad.
Md. Asfauddaula Prince, the Executive Engineer of Water Development Board “Dahlia” division, said, “Due to heavy rains and steep slopes upstream, the water level in the Teestag to rise, which is the highest flow of the season at Teesta Point. That is why we have opened 44 gates of Teesta Barrage and continued the flow of the river. “
