Identify key entities: Netrakona, two rivers, water above danger level, 9,000 hectares, rice fields, submerged.
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Heavy rainfall and upstream hill torrents have pushed major rivers in Bangladesh’s Netrokona district significantly above danger levels, submerging thousands of hectares of Boro rice crops and threatening local livelihoods. Farmers report a much higher area of crop loss than official estimates, attributing the disaster to blocked drainage systems exacerbated by the persistent rains.
The Kangs River at Jaria point is flowing 1.10 meters above its danger mark of 6.35 meters, while the Ubdakhali River at Kalmakanda point exceeds its danger level of 4.90 meters by 81 centimeters, the District Water Development Board (PDB) reported Friday morning. Other rivers, including the Someshwari, Mogra, Mahadeb, and Dhanu, are also experiencing rising water levels across the district.
As of Thursday afternoon, 9,625 hectares of Boro paddy in various sub-districts, including Kalmakanda, Mohanganj, Khaliajuri, Modan, Atpara, Kendua, Sadar, and Barhatta, were submerged, according to Md. Ruhul Amin, Deputy Director of the District Agricultural Extension Directorate. While rainfall ceased on Thursday morning, preventing further immediate water increases, 8,534 hectares remain underwater.
Netrokona had cultivated Boro paddy on 185,547 hectares this year, aiming for a production target of 1.32 million metric tons. The haor (wetland) areas alone accounted for 41,065 hectares, with an expected yield of 292,590 metric tons.
Local farmers, however, contend that the submerged area is nearly double the official figures. Shofikul Islam, a farmer from Puranhali village in Khaliajuri upazila, stated that the submerged crops are primarily due to accumulated rainwater. He blamed the disaster on the “inoperable condition of most sluice gates in the haor areas, along with siltation in canals, ditches, and rivers,” which obstructs water drainage.
Islam emphasized the devastating impact of crop failure, noting that Boro paddy sustains farmers’ annual household expenses, medical costs, children’s education, and social events. Local farmer Dabir Hossain from Puranhali village reported only harvesting 13 acres out of 50 acres of Boro paddy he cultivated in Pangashia Haor. Ziaul Haque, from Kuttichapra Haor, managed to cut only 14 acres out of 30, lamenting the loss of the rest and the inability to dry fodder for livestock, leaving them with “no option but to sell the cattle.”
Despite the construction of 138 kilometers of protective embankments at a cost of 310 million Taka this year to safeguard haor crops, these structures have so far prevented flash flood waters from entering fields, according to local officials. However, farmers argue that the stagnant rainwater remains a critical issue.
Khaliajuri Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Delwar Hossain confirmed that 4,985 hectares of high-yielding paddy varieties like BRRI-88, BRRI-89, and BRRI-92 remain submerged in his upazila, where 52% of the harvest has been completed. He warned that further rainfall would escalate losses. Modan Upazila Agriculture Officer Mizanur Rahman reported 760 hectares submerged out of 17,650 cultivated hectares, with 68% harvested. Kalmakanda Upazila Agriculture Officer Saidul Islam noted 1,950 hectares under water in his area.
Farmers also face labor shortages, with Assadullah Riad from Kulihali village in Modan upazila stating that even at 2,000 Taka per day, workers are difficult to find for harvesting the remaining dry fields.
District Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md. Sakhawat Hossain affirmed that all embankments in the haor remain intact and measures are being taken to prevent breaches. District Administrator Khondaker Mushfiqur Rahman clarified that the current submergence is due to accumulated rainwater, not floodwaters, attributing the distress to siltation in haor canals and rivers that impedes water outflow. He expressed hope that if heavy rain, which has not occurred since Thursday morning, does not resume, a “major disaster” might be averted.
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