As forecast, rain began again in Sunamganj from dawn on 2 May. River and haor water levels are rising, and farmers are suffering badly as they try to dry their paddy. At the same time, they are trying desperately to cut the paddy in most of the haors and bring it home in the rain.

Rafiq Mia, a farmer in Shanir Haor, said: "I don't know whether we will be able to bring the paddy home this year. There was some relief after two days of rain, but now the rain has started again."

Azad Mia, a farmer in Matian Haor, said: "Rain and lightning started at dawn. The river is rising, so even though we know lightning could kill us, we are trying desperately to cut the paddy and bring it home."

The Sunamganj Water Development Board said the Surma river rose 5 centimetres on Saturday morning and was flowing 1.47 metres below the danger level.

Md Howlader, executive engineer of the Sunamganj Water Development Board, said heavy rain is forecast in the Sunamganj region for the next few days from Saturday morning, which could raise river levels and cause early floods. The Water Development Board and the district agriculture department have therefore asked farmers to cut the ripe paddy in the haors quickly.

Omar Faruk, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said farmers in Sunamganj have already harvested and brought home 59 per cent of the paddy.

Meanwhile, heavy rain has caused waterlogging in most of the district's haors, submerging paddy on more than about 20,000 hectares.

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