Flash flood fears grow as dyke works miss deadline in Sunamganj, Netrakona

The government has again failed to complete crop protection dyke construction and repair in Sunamganj and Netrakona by the February 28 deadline, raising fears among farmers that early flash floods could damage their Boro harvest.

There are also allegations of irregularities in the formation of Project Implementation Committees (PICs) and concerns over the quality of work.

Officials of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Sunamganj said 76 percent of the work had been completed by the deadline, and a 15-day extension has been sought.

In Netrakona, BWDB officials said progress stands at around 80 percent, and instructions have been given to complete the remaining work within a week.

However, farmers and rights activists claim only about half of the work has been completed and allege negligence and substandard construction.

They also said authorities failed to complete dyke works on time, even after extensions in the previous three years.

According to BWDB, 602 kilometres of dykes across 38 haors in Sunamganj are being built or repaired under 710 projects at a cost of Tk 145 crore.

Compared to last year, dyke length increased by 11 kilometres and projects fell by 25, but the total cost rose by Tk 20 crore.

In Netrakona, 202 PICs are implementing projects, including 143 in Khaliajuri upazila.

Data from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) show Boro paddy will be cultivated on 2,23,505 hectares in Sunamganj this year, including 1,65,245 hectares in haor areas, while 43,000 hectares have been brought under Boro cultivation in Netrakona.

The two districts lie at the foothills of India’s Meghalaya state, where early monsoon rainfall often triggers flash floods that inundate haor croplands during the harvest season.

The vulnerability was exposed in 2017, when an early flash flood devastated Boro crops in northeastern districts and revealed irregularities in dyke construction.

Following the disaster, the government revised the Kajer Binimoye Taka (Money for Work) rules, requiring PICs to be formed by November 30, work to begin before December 15, and completion by February 28.

FARMERS SAY IRREGULARITIES PERSIST

“I cultivated Boro on four acres and only hope to harvest peacefully,” said Abdul Kaiyum of Tahirpur. “But given the progress of the dyke work, I am worried.”

Rahmat Ali, a farmer from Khaliajuri in Netrakona, said unfinished work has heightened anxiety. “Whenever we see clouds in the sky, we become anxious. Even a small rise in water could damage crops if flooding occurs early.”

Recently, rights platform Haor Bachao Andolon formed a human chain in Sunamganj town protesting delays and alleged irregularities.

“There are allegations of irregularities in forming PICs, corruption in project selection, weak monitoring of quality and delays in completion,” said Bijon Sen Roy, general secretary of the organisation’s central committee.

WHAT BWDB OFFICIALS SAY

Mamun Howlader, executive engineer of BWDB in Sunamganj, said complaints often come from those not included in PICs and investigations usually find no evidence.

He said work was delayed due to the 13th national election and the slow receding of haor water.

Md Sakhawat Hossain, executive engineer of BWDB in Netrakona, said, “Delayed receding caused a late start to repair works, but more than 80 percent has been completed.”

Prof Chittaranjan Talukder of Haor Bachao Andolon said the progress figures could be misleading, as soil placement alone does not ensure durability without compaction and grass planting.

Around two lakh farming families in Sunamganj and 1.6 lakh in Netrakona depend on haor-based agriculture.

Netrakona DAE Deputy Director Aminul Islam and his Sunamganj counterpart Mohammad Umar Faruk said crop protection embankments are vital for safeguarding Boro fields, warning that even a weak dyke could jeopardise farmers’ harvests.