Flash floods and continuous rainfall have devastated crops across several haor areas in Habiganj, leaving around 21,000 farmers facing mounting losses estimated at Tk340 crore, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Farmers in Baniachong, Ajmiriganj, Lakhai, Nabiganj and Bahubal upazilas said rising water levels and lack of sunlight were destroying both standing and harvested paddy during the peak harvesting season.
Sunaru village farmer Mahadev Das in Baniachong Upazila said he cultivated 19 bighas of leased land at a cost of around Tk2.5 lakh.
He managed to harvest paddy from only two bighas before floodwaters submerged the remaining fields.
“The paddy I harvested is also rotting because there is no sunlight. I lost everything this season and now I am struggling to repay debts,” he said.
According to the DAE, crops on around 11,500 hectares of low-lying haor land in Baniachong, Ajmiriganj, Lakhai and Bahubal have gone under water.
Officials said some fields suffered partial damage, while paddy in many submerged plots was rotting underwater. Harvested crops stored in open yards are also being damaged by continuous rain.
The agriculture office claimed around 62 per cent of paddy had already been harvested in the haor areas, although many farmers disputed the figure.
Affected farmers said floods struck when nearly 30 per cent of the paddy remained unharvested.
Continuous rain and water flowing down from upstream areas are flooding more croplands every day, they said.
Several higher lands in areas including Atukura of Baniachong have also gone under water in recent days.
Most croplands in Gungiajuri haor of Bahubal Upazila are now submerged, while more farmers from Kazihata, Tarapasha and Hajipur villages in Bahubal, and Sultanshi, Sharifpur, Chanpur, Pach Paria and Shial Daria villages in Habiganj Sadar, are being added to the list of victims.
Sharifpur village farmer Moyna Mia said even higher lands in his area were now being flooded by rainwater.
“If we cannot bring the golden crop home, how will we survive with our families?” he asked.
Kabilpur village farmer Abdul Barik said he cultivated three bighas of land but could harvest only one before floodwaters submerged the rest.
“The paddy I harvested also started rotting in the yard because of continuous rain,” he said.
Shibpasha village farmer Sentu Mia said he harvested paddy from only two bighas before flooding began.
“Now four more bighas are under water. We have to enter chest-deep water every day to try to save the crops,” he said.
Farmers warned that the damage would worsen further unless sunny weather returned and floodwater receded quickly.
Habiganj DAE Additional Deputy Director Dhipok Kumer Paul said the district had already suffered crop losses worth around Tk340 crore.
“A list of 21,000 affected farmers has been prepared. Government assistance and incentives are being considered seriously,” he said.
