A few hours of sudden hot wind shattered the dreams of many farmers in at least 21 districts. The haor area of Netrokona was hit hardest, where the ripening Boro crops of thousands of farmers were burnt.

Green rice panicles sway in the wind. At this time the green sea of the haor brings hope to farmers' faces, a hope shared by the whole country. The fear is usually hill torrents and early floods. This time, beyond those fears, one hot breath of nature burned the fortunes of many farmers.

Thousands of farmers in the haors of Netrokona and Kishoreganj have lost everything. Netrokona's agriculture department estimates damage on 14,000 hectares. By official estimates, about 100,000 tonnes of Boro rice on at least 21,000 hectares in 21 districts became sterile (chita). Coping with this unfamiliar disaster amid the coronavirus situation is another blow. Rehabilitation is always small consolation against the losses, and helping broken farmers stand again is the great need of the time.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.