Flooding Across 29 Bangladesh Districts Swamps Over 100,000 Hectares of Farmland

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Unrelenting torrential rainfall and flash floods cascading from upstream regions have submerged over 100,000 hectares of cropland across Bangladesh, threatening the country’s food security as the peak planting season nears. According to data released Sunday by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the flooding has impacted 29 districts, with Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, Sunamganj, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Munshiganj bearing the brunt of the disaster.

The DAE field report indicates that a total of 104,936 hectares of farmland are currently under water. This includes 76,060 hectares of Aus rice paddies and 9,619 hectares of seedbeds prepared for Aman rice. Additionally, approximately 15,325 hectares of summer vegetable crops have been inundated by the rising waters.

Agricultural experts have expressed concern regarding the Aman crop, noting that if floodwaters do not recede rapidly, farmers may miss the critical window for transplanting seedlings, which could lead to significant production shortfalls. However, government officials remain cautiously optimistic, suggesting that current submersion does not automatically equate to total crop loss.

Md. Obaidur Rahman Mondal, director of the DAE’s field wing, emphasized that the extent of the damage is still being assessed. He noted that if the rainfall subsides and water levels drop, much of the submerged acreage, including seedbeds, may still be salvageable. A final determination of the total economic and agricultural damage will be made once floodwaters fully recede and field inspections are completed.