Several districts of the country’s Haor basin including Sunamganj and Netrokona have experienced flash flooding in the last couple of days due to heavy rains in the upstream.
The early floods have damaged embankments in many areas and water entered vast croplands and households, leaving many people marooned.
On Monday afternoon, flood water submerged the paddy fields of more than 100 farmers in the low-lying areas along the Darain River in Shalla area of Sunamganj.
Locals have reported that the Water Development Board (WDB) did not build any embankment in this area stretching from Mohankhali to Sahadebpasha.
“River water entered into some paddy fields in the afternoon, mainly due to high wind speed. If it continues, more croplands along the river will be submerged,” said Mazedur Rahman, the acting agriculture officer of Shalla Upazila.
According to WDB Deputy Assistant Engineer Md Abdul Qaiyum, the farmers of this low-lying area have to harvest paddy despite being at risk due to flash floods. “The water may recede from the croplands if the river water goes down,” he added.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Taleb said that the area did not fall under purview of the flood-protection embankment.
Locals report that flood in the Someshwari River has inundated paddy fields in Ganiakuri Haor under Madhyanagar Upazila.
On Saturday, paddy fields of around 2,000 farmers from 10 villages under Tahirpur Upazila of the district were submerged after the Najarkhali embankment, built along the Patlai River, got damaged by flood water.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Hasan-Ud-Doula said that the area in Tanguar Haor is a sanctuary for fishes. “The number of croplands in the area is not too high.”
Tahirpur Upazila Chairman Karuna Sindhu Chowdhury Bablu said that they had built a small embankment to prevent flood water from entering the croplands. But it could not take the water pressure.
He added that the authorities cannot build an embankment in the area since it is a Ramsar site.
The flash flood has also affected the farmers of Netrokona.
From March 30 to April 2, some 500 acres of Boro paddy fields in several areas of Khaliajuri Upazila have gone under water.
The damage will be higher if the water level keeps rising rise over the next few days, say officials.
