Flood hits over 28,610 hectares of cropland in 12 dists

Flash floods triggered by days of incessant rainfall and upstream hill water have inundated croplands across Bangladesh, causing extensive damage to standing crops and raising concerns over the country's upcoming agricultural production.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), crops on more than 28,610 hectares of land in 12 districts had been affected by Saturday. The preliminary assessment also shows that crops on nearly 500,000 hectares remain waterlogged and are at risk if floodwaters do not recede soon. The affected districts include Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Habiganj, Naogaon, Jashore, Chuadanga and Meherpur. Among the damaged crops are Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, jute, summer vegetables, chilli, ginger, turmeric, fruits and several other seasonal crops.

The situation may worsen as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast very heavy rainfall in six divisions-Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet, raising fears of further flooding and crop losses.

Agriculture experts and officials fear that prolonged flooding could negatively affect agricultural production during the current growing season if water remains stagnant for several more days.

The fisheries sector has also suffered significant losses. Overflowing floodwaters washed away fish from ponds and shrimp farms in several areas, particularly in Chattogram.

According to the Chattogram District Fisheries Office, floods have damaged 9,933 ponds and reservoirs and 320 shrimp farms across 153 unions in 15 upazilas, affecting fish culture on approximately 4,100 hectares of water bodies.