25,000 hectares of Boro rice at risk after Dekhar Haor embankment breach

Farmers call the crisis a consequence of human actions, particularly fish farming that has damaged the embankment

Hundreds of farmers across four Upazilas in Sunamganj are facing the risk of losing their Boro rice crop, cultivated on approximately 25,000 hectares, after upstream water began flooding the Dekhar Haor through a breached embankment.

The breach occurred in a remote part of the haor in the early hours of Saturday.

Upon hearing the news, farmers from nearby villages rushed to the site with baskets, spades, bamboo, and sandbags to repair the protection bank in a desperate bid to save their main harvest of the year.

Officials from the district administration, Water Development Board (WDB), and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) joined local representatives at the spot to coordinate the emergency repairs.

According to the local agriculture office, Dekhar Haor spans 45,859 hectares, with over 25,000 hectares currently under Boro cultivation.

Farmers from Sunamganj Sadar, Shantiganj, Dowarabazar, and Chhatak Upazilas depend on this land for their livelihoods.

Agriculture officials warned that if the breach is not fully contained, the majority of the crop will be submerged.

Farmers alleged that the crisis was man-made, blaming the negligence of a local fishery leaseholder.

Shahid Mia, a farmer from Astama village in Shantiganj, claimed the breach originated from a section of the embankment near the Bardoi wetland that had been cut by leaseholders last month to drain water for fishing.

"They cut the embankment to catch fish but failed to repair it properly afterwards. The heavy rains at the end of March made the weakened structure even more unstable. We repeatedly informed the administration and the WDB, but they did not take it seriously," Shahid said.

Mamun Howlader, executive engineer of Sunamganj WDB, acknowledged the issue, saying that the problem arose because the leaseholder of the water body adjacent to the Kaimara River did not carry out adequate repairs after their fishing activities.

"We have provided 300 sandbags and bamboo. Farmers are currently working to reinforce the bank. The water flow is now coming under control, and we hope a major disaster can be averted," the engineer added.