Water levels in Kishoreganj's rivers rose over the past 24 hours under the impact of continuous rain and water flowing down from upstream, causing extensive damage to Boro paddy in the district's haor areas. Paddy on about 6,500 hectares has already gone under water.

At 9am on Friday (1 May), the office of the executive engineer of the district Water Development Board said water had risen at four important points. The Dhanu-Baulai river at the Itna point rose to 3.01 metres, 2 centimetres higher than the previous day. The Meghna at Chamraghat stood at 2.63 metres, up 5 centimetres; the Kalni at Austagram at 2.30 metres, up 5 centimetres; and the Meghna at Bhairab Bazar at 1.87 metres, up 2 centimetres.

The Water Development Board said all the rivers are still flowing below the danger level, at between 114 and 393 centimetres below it at different points.

Those concerned fear that the situation could worsen if the continuous rain and pressure of upstream water persist, which could increase the damage to Boro paddy in the haors.

Local farmers said paddy on thousands of hectares has already gone under water, leaving them deeply uncertain about bringing the harvest home.

Md Sajjad Hossain, executive engineer of the Kishoreganj Water Development Board, said the situation is being monitored round the clock. The local administration and farmers have been asked to stay alert to possible risks, and farmers had already been advised to harvest their paddy quickly.

Dr Sadiqur Rahman, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said field-level data up to Thursday afternoon showed 6,500 hectares under water, with the greatest damage in Itna and Austagram upazilas. If the rain does not increase, the risk of major losses may lessen, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.