Gumaibeel of Rangunia, a well-known granary in Chittagong, is now abuzz with flocks of red-green parakeets.
Also known as “dhaner gola,” Gumaibeel is the country's second-largest beel after Chalan Beel.
Gumaibeel is located in Rangunia in the foothills of Nischintapur Hills and spans Chandraghona, Maryam Nagar, Hosnabad, Swanirvar Rangunia, Lalanagar union and municipality wards No 7, 8 and 9.
It is widely known that the crop there can provide food for the people of the country for two and a half days.
Every year, Gumaibeel's land produces a bumper yield of Irriand Aman.
This year is no different, with the fields shining with ripe paddy. Around 4,000 acres of land were farmed this year.
Farmers as well are hoping for a bumper crop.
But flocks of parakeets are making them worry as the birds consume all the rice on the land they sit.
Farmers estimate that there are 15,000-20,000 parakeets in one flock. They devour paddy in flocks most of the time, starting in the afternoon.
To save the produce, farmers monitor the fields in turns from midday until dark.
Local farmers said they have made attempts on a regular basis to disperse the feathered creatures.
According to farmers, Gumaibeel was originally a jheel. This lake was filled with fish and crowded with many species of birds.
In 1945, the late Abdul Bari Talukdar, a prominent Rangunia resident, pioneered modern farming by reforming Gumaibeel.
Irrigation system was first introduced in Gumaibeel during 1980-81 for dry season rice (Boro) cultivation.