Flood situation worsens

The flood situation worsened further in Netrakona, Kishoreganj and Moulvibazar yesterday with inundation of more areas of farmland, causing immense sufferings to farmers.

On the other hand, a section of traders are doing brisk business by selling rice at high rates in the local markets of the submerged areas in Sunamganj.

Boro crops on 10,000 hectares of land in eight upazilas went under water, said Bilash Chandra Pal, deputy director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Netrakona.

Earlier on Wednesday, heavy rainfall triggered flashflood in the areas, damaging 16,880 hectares out of 184,320 targeted for boro cultivation, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.

The situation deteriorated further as parts of Kirtankhola embankment in Khaliajury and Dingapota Haizda embankment in Mohanganj upazila were washed away, said the DD.

 As there was no rain yesterday, the flood situation might have improved, he said.

Abu Taher, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Netrakona, said it is impossible to repair the embankments in such a situation.

In Kishoreganj, about 23,270 hectares of land in seven upazilas were flooded in the last two days.

On Wednesday, 19,730 hectares of land out of targeted 1,65,515 hectares for boro farming had gone under water, said Deputy Director of Kishoreganj DAE Shafiqul Islam.

The flashflood was triggered due to overflow in the Kushiara, Kalani and Khowai rivers, he said.

According to our Moulvibazar correspondent, fresh boro crop on 17,432 hectares of land in Kulaura, Baralekha and Juri upazilas of the district were inundated due to rise of water level in the river Kushiyara and Hakaluki haor (a large water body).

The water level marked a sharp rise due to onrush of water from hills across the border, sources at local DAE said.

Azizur Rahman Monir, chairman of Bhukshimul Union Parishad in Kulaura, said about 70 percent of boro cropland in the area was flooded.

DD of Moulvibazar DAE Md Shahjahan said 17,432 hectares of cultivated land out of 53,426 hectares went under water.

Meanwhile, people of the submerged areas of Sunamganj are facing acute food scarcity as a section of rice traders are using the flood as an excuse to charge higher prices, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

For example, 50-kg sack of rice was sold at Tk 1800 to 1900 before the flood but it is now being sold at Tk 2400 to 2500 in the markets of Dharmapasha upazila, said Md Nazmul Haider, a local schoolteacher.

Source: thedailystar