Rivers have risen with incessant rain and hill torrents from upstream, and water has entered low-lying areas, spreading fear among more than 20 lakh people in Sunamganj. More than three lakh people in border areas fear being marooned, and the district's livestock farmers are in deep trouble.

More than 3,000 farmers in Sunamganj had pinned their hopes on Eid-ul-Azha, expecting to profit this year by selling their animals for Qurbani. But with rivers rising from the rain and hill torrents, those hopes have faded.

One of them is Kauchhar Ahmed, who lives in a low-lying area of Bishwambharpur upazila in Sunamganj. He raised 20 cattle for this year's Eid-ul-Azha, hoping to sell them at good prices, but his hopes have been dashed. With the lowlands flooded by hill torrents from upstream, he is in serious difficulty with his livestock.

Kauchhar said: "In last year's terrible flood I had to sell nine cattle from my farm for only Tk 3 lakh. This year too I am in trouble with my cattle."

More than 50 permanent and temporary cattle and goat markets are due to be held in Sunamganj this year. But more than a hundred haors are already brimming with floodwater, causing a shortage of fodder.

Farmer Arash Mia said: "I am very worried. With the river rising like this, I am worried about how I will take my animals to market."

Sunamganj district livestock officer Dr Asaduzzaman said the leave of livestock officials and staff in all upazilas has been cancelled because of rising rivers and the risk of flooding.

He said a total of 40,000 cattle, goats and other livestock will be brought to various markets in Sunamganj this year, with a market value of Tk 400 crore.

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