Dilapidated shelter leaves Kushtia farmers exposed to elements years after cyclone damage
Photo Collected
Farmers working in the vast Kharilar Beel in Kushtia’s Kumarkhali upazila are facing significant hardship due to the prolonged neglect of a rest shelter designed to provide them relief from harsh weather. What was intended to be a vital refuge for hundreds of laborers has been reduced to a skeletal structure of nine concrete pillars, leaving workers exposed to scorching heat, unpredictable rainfall, and the persistent danger of lightning strikes.
The facility, located near the Uttar Bhabanipur culvert, was constructed during the 2018-19 fiscal year by the local project implementation office at a cost of approximately 300,000 taka. It was specifically built to offer farmers a dry space to eat, pray, and seek cover during sudden storms. However, the shelter’s utility was short-lived; in May 2020, Cyclone Amphan tore the tin roof away, and despite the passage of six years, the structure remains unrepaired.
During a recent visit to the fields, where activities like paddy cultivation and jute processing remain intense, the abandoned shelter was seen being used merely to dry jute sticks. With no functional roof, farmers are forced to seek shade under small trees or near tube wells. Local laborers described a daily struggle, noting that the lack of a proper resting area leaves them vulnerable to the elements throughout the long workday. For many, the lack of shelter exacerbates the fear of working in open fields during monsoon storms, when the risk of lightning strikes is at its peak.
Farmers have voiced their frustration, noting that the shelter’s absence deprives them of a dignified space for rest and prayer. Dulal Sekh, a farmer from Uttar Bhabanipur village, lamented that while thousands of people work across the vast expanse of the beel, they are left to endure the sun and rain without a single place to retreat. Others, including Choyen Uddin and Badar Uddin, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that restoring the roof would provide not only comfort but a necessary layer of safety against natural disasters.
Local officials acknowledged the farmers’ plight and the state of the facility. Yadu-Boyra Union Parishad Chairman Md. Mizanur Rahman confirmed that the issue has been brought to the attention of the upazila administration, suggesting that a permanent, weather-resistant roof is necessary.
Kumarkhali Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Kaosar Ali underscored the importance of the shelter for the safety and well-being of the agricultural workforce and pledged to coordinate with the local administration for a swift reconstruction. Kumarkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Akthar stated that the administration is aware of the situation and that plans are in place to secure funding in the upcoming fiscal year to restore the structure permanently.
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