Published : 12 Jan 2026, 03:12 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:00 PM
Construction of embankments to protect Boro crops in the Haors of Sunamganj has stalled at more than half of the project sites, despite the official inauguration taking place nearly a month ago.
Farmer leaders submitted a memorandum to the district administration to voice their concerns that delayed work will lack durability, leaving the district's Boro crops vulnerable to hill runoff.
They expressed alarm over the slow progress and alleged widespread irregularities and corruption, including the formation of Project Implementation Committees (PIC) in defiance of official policy.
The leaders demanded immediate action to safeguard the harvest.
Data from the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Sunamganj, reveals that the District Kabita Implementation and Monitoring Committee approved 705 PICs for the construction and repair of dams across 42 Haors during the 2025-2026 financial year.
The project, valued at Tk 1.37 billion, aims to cover nearly 500km of embankments. However, as of Friday, 200 PICs had failed to begin work.
Government officials claim that nearly 300 committees have commenced operations.
The district has set a cultivation target of 223,505 hectares for Boro paddy this season.
Under the Kabita policy, work was scheduled to start on Dec 15 last year. Leaders of the “Haor Bachao Andolan” or “Save the Haor Movement” described the inauguration as a mere "formality”, saying they fear that not even half the work will be finished by the Feb 28 deadline due to the late start.
On Jan 7, the movement held a press conference to announce programmes protesting the delays, corruption, and mismanagement.
They noted that while projects were approved, several committees have yet to be formed.
Since the devastating floods in 2017, these projects were supposed to be led by local farmers.
While the deputy commissioner, WDB executive engineers, and sub-district officials managed approvals, farmers were designated as implementers.
However, allegations have surfaced that middlemen are now seizing control of these projects.
The WDB said it surveyed 1,111km of embankments across 42 Haors this season and took up projects to construct and renovate nearly 500km of them.
A visit to the Chatol Beel and Utharia embankment areas of Dekhar Haor on Friday found no apparent construction activity. The Utharia embankment remained largely intact.
Farmers said an excavator had arrived a few days earlier and dug into the embankment soil, but did not add any new earth.
They fear the old embankment is being made to look new without any actual construction, raising concerns that funds may be misused.
Jahur Uddin, a farmer from Joykolosh village beside Dekhar Haor, said: “Work on the crop protection embankment at Chatol Beel has not started yet. We do not know when the PIC members will begin work. It must start soon and be done properly following rules.”
Farmer Marjan Hossain echoed the concern, saying: “We want the embankment to be built properly.”
Farmer Shafiqun Noor from the same Haor said: “The sooner the Utharia embankment is built, the better. Once rain starts, work becomes impossible and embankments collapse.
“We are worried because work has not begun yet.”
Another farmer, Rahat Ahmed, said: “No work has started at Utharia yet. If the embankment is not built quickly, our fields will be destroyed by water. Without early construction, crops go under water.”
He said an excavator dug into the embankment a few days earlier, making it appear new, but no new soil was added.
Farmer Azim Uddin complained that while previous years saw negligent work, this year has seen no progress at all.
Haor Bachao Andolon Vice-President Chittaranjan Talukder said, “Less than a third of approved projects have started.
“We see excessive allocations for intact projects and corruption in committee formations. Late work is never sustainable."
Mamun Howlader, executive engineer of WDB, Sunamganj, argued that water has not yet receded from the haors, a process that can last into February.
"Our staff and the administration are monitoring the situation. Though the pace is slow now, we expect full-scale work to be underway after the 15th of January."
