United News of Bangladesh

Unplanned, unregulated and unapproved poultry farms across Feni district are triggering severe environmental pollution, disrupting local biodiversity and putting thousands of residents at risk, according to locals and officials. Residents have filed repeated complaints with government offices over the growing pollution caused by the mushrooming farms. The district administration has responded with assurances of action, but meaningful intervention is yet to be seen. According to data from the Department of Environment (DoE), Feni has 1,367 registered poultry farms, while another 1,814 have applied for environmental clearance. Among these are 544 layer farms, 856 broiler farms, 384 Sonali farms, eight parent stock layer farms and 22 parent stock broiler farms. However, the number of illegal and unapproved farms remains unknown. Officials estimate the actual figure to be more than double the number of registered farms. A visit to several parts of Sonagazi upazila revealed poultry farms built haphazardly on rooftops, in residential yards, beside ponds, on croplands, along canals and directly next to roads. Despite clear guidelines requiring clearance from the Livestock Department and compliance with structural standards, the vast majority of these farms have ignored the rules altogether. During recent inspections, this correspondent found many farms operating without environmental clearance or Livestock Department licences, even though existing regulations require either DoE approval or registration with the Livestock Department before a farm can be established. Because these farms have expanded outside the legal framework, environmental pollution has intensified across Sonagazi and other unions. Read more: How Green Industries Can Reduce River Water Pollution in Dhaka City The impact on local ecology is profound, while residents say their daily lives have become increasingly unbearable. Agricultural lands are suffering extensive damage, with waste from an estimated 95% of the farms polluting water bodies and soil. Dumped waste is contaminating canals, disrupting irrigation and creating shortages of clean water. Although guidelines dictate that poultry farms must be located at least 200 metres from residential areas, many have been set up right beside homes, schools and mosques. The foul odour makes nearby roads difficult to use, and locals report rising illness among residents and students of surrounding educational institutions. Many residents say farm owners often wield local influence, making it difficult to protest. Those who raise concerns are reportedly harassed or threatened. Farm waste has also reduced crop yields, while the constant stench makes it difficult for children and adults alike to move around the affected areas. Mamtaz Begum, a 70-year-old resident of Char Elahi village under Motiganj Union, said she once lived peacefully. But over the past four to five years, influential locals have set up layer farms near her home. Waste from the farms has polluted ponds and croplands, while the smell, carried by the south wind, has worsened her breathing problems. She fears she may eventually have to abandon her ancestral home. Similar conditions prevail across Bogadana, Amirabad, Mongalkandi and Nawabpur unions, where unplanned and unapproved farms continue to proliferate without environmental clearance, livestock licences or even basic trade licences from the Union Parishad. Residents say repeated complaints and even human-chain protests have failed to yield results, largely due to weak monitoring. They demand strict action against the illegal farms. With 100M birds dead, poultry industry could serve as example as dairy farmers confront bird flu In Char Elahi village, a farm near the house of Mishu Soudagar was found just 15 yards from residential houses. Between 40 and 50 households live within a 150-yard radius. Waste is dumped into a small pit and nearby cropland, attracting flies and mosquitoes and producing an overpowering stench. Dead chickens wrapped in plastic bags were also seen dumped in roadside drains and fields. Kamal Hossain, a resident of the area, said locals must use the road beside the farm several times a day, enduring the unbearable odour. Children face difficulties travelling to school, while mosquito infestations have escalated sharply. Some farm owners, however, insist they are trying to comply. Ahsan Ullah of Bogadana Union said he started his farm to become self-reliant after returning from abroad. Closing it now would cause severe financial loss, he said, adding that he has applied for clearance. But nearby residents, including Pulak, Farida Begum, Khadija Begum and Abdul Shukur, said the farm’s waste has made life intolerable. Strong hatchery, skilled workforce vital for sustainable growth of poultry sector

At least three people, including two women, were killed and 10 others injured when a speeding bus lost control and ploughed into a roadside shop in Daganbhuiyan upazila of Feni district on Thursday. Two of the deceased were identified as Shamim Ara Begum, 50, wife of Shahidullah from Khushipur area, Md Shraban, 20, son of Abdul Matin from Dakshin Jaylaskar village of the upazila. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Mohipal Highway Police Station Harunur Rashid said the accident occurred around 10:15am when the Noakhali-bound bus of ‘Sugandha Paribahan’ from Feni Sadar skidded and hit an electric pole before crashing into the shop on Feni-Noakhali regional road near the entrance of Lucky Road adjacent to Silonia Bazar. The accident left at least 13 people injured, he said. Businessman killed in Meherpur road crash Locals rescued the injured and sent them to Feni General Hospital where physicians declared three of them dead on arrival, the OC said. Of the injured, seven are receiving treatment at the hospital, one was shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital and two others were released after giving first aid, he said, adding that the bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue. Blaming the reckless driving during rains, highway police officials said the bus was seized and legal action will be taken.

People along the banks of the Choto Feni River in three upazilas are living in constant fear as severe erosion devours land and swallows key regulators at Muchapur and Kazirhat. The erosion has struck Companiganj, Daganbhuiyan and Sonagazi upazilas, claiming crop fields, fruit orchards, roads and hundreds of homesteads. Locals estimate that some 41,000 hectares of farmland have already disappeared, while a further 30,000 hectares remain under threat. Homes, markets, religious institutions and major roads are also teetering on the brink. On September 15, more than a hundred residents from Badarpur village in Chormojlishpur union, Sonagazi, formed a human chain in front of the Feni Water Development Board office. They demanded urgent measures to save their homes, mosques and surrounding land from further erosion. Villagers said that although a contractor has been stationed in the area for over a month under a large-scale project, no meaningful protection work has begun — not even the placement of geo bags. They claim the contractor has blamed the Board and stalled progress with repeated excuses. Dug-up road turns into knee-deep canal; Kaliganj villagers have to use rafts Meanwhile, several roads have collapsed, cracks have appeared in houses and the situation is deteriorating fast. Residents warn that unless prompt action is taken, entire villages could soon disappear. Among the worst-hit locations in Sonagazi Upazila are North Char Darbesh, North West Char Darbesh, Char Sahavikhari, Char Injiman, Taltoli, Tellargat, Fakirapul and Italy Market in Char Darbesh Union. Badarpur and Miajir’s Ghat in Char Majlishpur Union have also been badly affected. In Bogdana Union, erosion has damaged Jelepara, Kuthirhat, Katakhila, Kalimandir, Aurarkhil, Adarshgram, Kazirhat Sluice Gate, Alampur, Dhanipara and Saheber Ghat. In Daganbhuiyan Upazila, Bhashashahid Salam Nagar village has been hit, while in Noakhali’s Companiganj Upazila, Muchapur village, Macchaghona, East Char Hazari and East Char Parbati in Char Parbati Union have suffered significant loss. Hundreds of cement and semi-cement houses have already been washed away. Villagers report that sections of their homes, trees and gardens have vanished overnight. Many are dismantling what remains and moving to temporary shelters. Some have tried to shore up the banks with bamboo and trees, but these makeshift barriers are proving futile. Dangerous Crossing: Kurigram villagers plead for permanent bridge The threat is particularly severe in north-west Char Darbesh, Kazirhat, Aurarkhil, Daspara, Katakhila and Kuthirhat, where the river is advancing relentlessly day and night. Monowara, a resident of Badarpur village in Majlishpur union, spoke of her grief, “The river has taken away our home.” Md Sentu Mia, also from Badarpur, said displaced families are staying with relatives. “They are going through immense hardship,” he explained. He added that although villagers have made attempts to stem the erosion, the contractor delayed starting work by two months. “Hundreds of people have become homeless in just two months due to heavy monsoon rains and high tides. Their homes are disappearing before our very eyes. We are helpless, and no one seems to be paying attention,” he said. Kamal Uddin from Char Gopalgaon described how the Chhoto Feni River runs along the western side of his village. Since recent floods, he said, the current has grown unusually strong, cutting into the banks for two to three kilometres. “Ten years ago, my house was swept away. Now I live on someone else’s land. Half of this village has already gone. Many more homes will disappear within weeks if urgent action is not taken,” he said. Meghnath Chandra Das, also from the area, said locals are trying to protect their homes with sandbags, bamboo and trees, “but it is not holding up at all.” Md Akter Hossain Majumder, executive engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board’s Feni office, confirmed that the Chhoto Feni, Feni and Kalidas Pahalia rivers are causing erosion across the three upazilas. He said 13 kilometres of riverbank are currently at risk. Billion-dollar Teesta mega project: A recipe for catastrophe He pointed to a major initiative, the ‘Be Strong’ project, recently approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Funded by the World Bank, the Tk171-crore scheme aims to reinforce vulnerable banks along the three rivers and is due to begin soon. Majumder added that in the 2024–25 financial year, repair work worth Tk17.75 crore has been completed at 116 locations. The Muchapur regulator, destroyed in last year’s flood, will also be rebuilt under a government initiative. Villagers remain hopeful that these measures, if implemented without delay, will spare them further loss and restore a measure of security.

The recent flooding in Feni district has left thousands of residents reeling from devastating losses across agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors, with the overall damage estimated at Tk 146.43 crore, according to official sources. Triggered by incessant rainfall and a surge of water from upstream regions, the flood submerged vast stretches of low-lying areas in Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Daganbhuiyan, Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas, severely affecting daily life and livelihoods, they said. Agriculture: A Battered Backbone According to a preliminary report from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 5,564.61 hectares of cropland have been damaged. This includes 845 hectares of Aush paddy, 537 hectares of summer vegetables, 14 hectares of chilli, seven hectares of ginger, 2.5 hectares of turmeric, 0.11 hectares of tomato, 689 hectares of Aman seedbeds, and 3,470 hectares of stored ginger. The loss has impacted an estimated 28,835 farmers, with damages amounting to Tk 38.07 crore. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury from Darbarpur Union in Fulgazi upazila said, “My entire summer Aman seedbed on three bighas of land was ruined. Every year floods ruin our crops and plunge our families into a financial crisis.” Mustafizur Rahman of Dhanikunda in Parshuram upazila said, “Five bighas of vegetable lands have been submerged and damaged during the flood. Within a year, we have faced massive losses once again. If this continues, we will have to starve.” Mohammad Atik Ullah, Deputy Director of DAE, said, “There is still a lot of water in many areas. We can assess the true loss only once the water recedes. We’re working on initial calculations and will recommend compensation for affected farmers.” ‘When waters rise, our dreams drown’: Feni cries out for sustainable future Fisheries: Livelihoods Washed Away The fisheries sector reported a total loss of Tk 8.71 crore. According to the District Fisheries Office, 276.20 metric tonnes of fish worth Tk 5.90 crore were washed away from 2,330 ponds, water bodies, and farms. Besides, 128 metric tonnes of fish fry worth Tk 3.50 lakh were destroyed, while infrastructural damages amounted to Tk 42.50 lakh. Md Alamgir, a fish farmer from Munshirhat Union, said he lost fish from three ponds totalling three bighas, resulting in a loss of Tk 2.5 lakh. “We don’t know how to recover,” he added. Abdur Rahman from Paschim Alka village in Parshuram upazila shared a similar plight. “I lost my net-enclosed pond, with all the fish swept away. Officials did not assist us properly last year either, so it’ll be impossible to recover without help.” District Fisheries Officer Aminul Islam said final reports are being prepared and a list will be sent to the government for compensation. Livestock Sector Suffers Heavy Toll Floodwaters claimed the lives of 10,600 poultry birds—1,400 in Fulgazi, 7,200 in Parshuram, and 2,000 in Chhagalnaiya. Besides, 235 ducks, three goats, one sheep and four cows were lost, according to the District Livestock Office. Animal feed and fodder were also destroyed: seven tonnes of animal feed worth Tk 2.58 lakh, 30 metric tonnes of husk worth Tk 1.70 lakh, and 160 metric tonnes of grass worth Tk 7.65 lakh. Kamal Hossain from Amjad Hat Union lamented, “I lost one cow—the only source of income. We are now destitute. If sustainable dams are not constructed, this crisis will never end.” Md Hasan, owner of Bismillah Poultry in Bijoypur, said, “Years of hard work and dreams have ended in a moment, causing a loss of Tk 4.50 lakh.” Dr Md Mozammel Haque, Feni’s Livestock Officer, said the estimated loss in this sector stands at Tk 64.89 lakh. “Compensation will be disbursed to affected and marginal farmers once officially sanctioned,” he said. Breaches and Infrastructure Damage Embankments along the Muhuri, Kahua and Sillonia rivers suffered 41 breaches across five upazilas. The Water Development Board estimates damages at nearly Tk 9 crore. Assistant Engineer Abul Kashem said, “Since July 8, breaches have occurred in 41 locations along embankments, affecting five upazilas.” Meanwhile, floodwaters damaged 126 roads covering a combined 300 kilometres in three upazilas. Feni Roads & Highways Executive Engineer Mahmud Al Faruq said the damage is valued at Tk 90 crore. Tk 7,340 cr flood control embankment to be built in Feni: Adviser Displacement and Ongoing Hardship While 9,195 flood victims have left shelter homes, 365 people from 122 families are still residing in nine centres, highlighting the prolonged effects of the disaster. This flood, though severe, follows a more devastating one in August 2024, which claimed 29 lives and affected over ten lakh people in the district. That event caused total damages of approximately Tk 2,686.205 crore—crippling roads, schools, homes, businesses and vital infrastructure. With memories of last year’s disaster still fresh, many in Feni now wonder how many more blows their communities can endure without sustainable and long-term solutions.  

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday warned that holding another national election without cleansing the country's ‘stinking past practices’ would amount to a ‘massacre of democracy’. "We have made it clear that before any proper election, some essential and fundamental reforms must be carried out. It cannot be the genuine political intention of any party to obstruct this reform,” he said while speaking at a programme titled ‘Sudhi Somabesh’ in Feni town. The first step towards ensuring people’s rights is to hold a fair election, said the Jamaat chief, calling upon all to cooperate with the reform commission. Recalling the martyrs of last year’s July movement, he said, "We will not betray our children, and no one else will be allowed to do so either. We are ready to establish the state our martyrs dreamt of, respecting the price of their sacred blood." Any form of fascism must be resisted, reiterates Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said they do not want to hear even a “whisper of administrative interference” in the upcoming national election. "If that’s the case, then why so many people sacrificed their lives?" he questioned. The Jamaat Ameer reiterated his party's stance against fascism, saying that no fascism can stay on Bangladesh’s soil and they [Jamaat] have fought for the rights which are yet to be established. He mentioned that their fight for justice and people's rights will continue until every trace of authoritarianism is wiped out. "With patriotism in our hearts and faith in Allah, we must take the country forward." Presided over by Feni district Jamaat Ameer Mufti Abdul Hannan, the event was addressed, among others, by central and local Jamaat leaders, including central Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. Earlier in the afternoon, the Jamaat Ameer addressed a gathering of the party Rukon at the same venue. Jamaat wants local polls before national election 'to reduce public suffering'  During his speech, Dr Shafiqur emphasised adopting the Proportional Representation (PR) system to prevent the rise of fascism. He also stressed the need for holding local government elections before the next national one and insisted that all future elections must be held under a caretaker government.

The bodies of two children were recovered from the uncovered septic tank in Sat Mandir Road area of West Chhagalnaiya municipality in Feni late Friday night. The deceased were identified as Faisal Farabi, 9, son of Qatar expatriate Iqbal Hossain of East Shilua village in Pathannagar union and Sakhawat Hossain, 8, son of Dubai expatriate Shamsul Haque of Durgapur village in Ghupal union. The children went out to play and might have entered a nearby under-construction building where they accidentally fell into the open septic tank on the premises, said Chhagalnaiya Police Station Sub-Inspector Salauddin Rashed. Later, with assistance from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, their bodies were recovered from the tank. Five Feni villages innundated after collapse of flood embankments amid heavy rain Locals said  the building was still under construction and lacked basic safety measures. The mouth of the septic tank was left uncovered with no warning signs or protective barriers in place. The tragic deaths cast a pall of grief over the area. Police said the bodies were recovered and further legal steps will be taken in consultation with the families.  

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed 13 Bangladeshis into the country through the Motua border in Chhagalnaiya upazila of Feni in the early hours of Friday without following due process, according to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). A patrol team of BGB’s Chhagalnaiya Border Outpost (BOP) under Battalion-4 found the group [four men, three women, and six children] inside an abandoned house near the Motua area around 9am and detained them, BGB said.  BSF 'push-ins' continue: 14 more sent through Matiranga border The detained individuals were identified as Md Altaf, 39, his wife Momina Begum, 32; Md Aminul Islam, 38, his wife Urmi Begum, 29; Mominul Haque, 35, his wife Shefali Begum, 30; and Ishraq Hossain, 40. The remaining six are children. Quoting the detainees, BGB said they were brought to the border with their hands and eyes tied. Taking advantage of bad weather, the BSF untied them and forced them across the border into Bangladesh. Lt Col Md Mosharraf Hossain, commanding officer of BGB Battalion-4 in Feni, said the BGB company commander lodged a verbal protest with his BSF counterpart over the incident. BGB said the 13 individuals were handed over to Chhagalnaiya Police Station. The local administration will take further action regarding them. Chhagalnaiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazrul Islam said the detainees are currently being sheltered at a room in Motua Government Primary School and are receiving food and necessary assistance. “A formal protest note will be sent over the incident,” said Lt Col Mosharraf. BSF pushes 19 people into Bangladesh: BGB Since May 7, the BSF has illegally pushed almost a thousand individuals into Bangladesh - not all of them Bangladeshis -through various points of the border.

Government primary schools in Feni are facing a serious student enrolment crisis, even after various initiatives taken to bring children back to classrooms. Teachers and education officials point to the growing attraction of kindergartens and madrasas as a major reason behind the falling numbers in public schools. Many parents say they believe private institutions provide better quality education compared to government-run schools, especially in terms of discipline and religious instruction. According to data from the six upazila primary education offices, 180 out of 534 government primary schools in Feni now have fewer than 100 students.  PM opens ‘Bangabandhu Corner’ at a primary school in Tungipara Among them, 12 schools have less than 50 students enrolled. Each school has three to 12 teachers, yet parents continue to express concern over the standard of teaching.  Visits to these schools have revealed poor attendance and lack of classroom engagement.   This year, the district education office recorded 171,946 enrolments in government primary schools—11,624 fewer than in 2024. A serious concern has also emerged due to a mismatch in data between the district and upazila offices.  While the district reports over 171,000 students, the upazila offices together count only 72,795—almost 100,000 less. District officials claim that 97.48% of children aged five to 10 are currently enrolled in government schools.  Guidelines issued for primary schools reopening tomorrow amid heatwave But ground-level reports tell a different story. Several local schools are reporting very low student numbers. Nilkhi Balika Government Primary School in Fulgazi has only 32 students. Devi Pur Ferdous Akhtar School has just 23. Many parents say the absence of religious studies in government schools and what they describe as inattentive teachers, have led them to seek alternatives. Monowara Begum from Rampur said she admitted her daughter to a private school. “The nearby government school doesn’t offer religious studies, and the teachers aren’t attentive,” she said. Jibon Chandra Das, headteacher of Devi Pur Ferdous Akhtar School, said, “We have only three teachers, and most parents are choosing madrasas or kindergartens over us.” Mohid Uddin Khondaker, Secretary General of the Primary Teachers’ Association, said, “Uncontrolled rise of kindergartens and madrasas, mismatch between textbooks and religious beliefs, and shortage of religious instructors are the key reasons why parents are pulling their children out. Teachers also feel less motivated when classrooms are empty.” SM Taherul Islam, education officer of Sonagazi Upazila, said many coastal families prefer work and religious education to formal schooling.  He added that teachers are now going door-to-door in many areas to encourage enrolment. Md Shahadat Hossain, General Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), Feni, said, “Parents want quality education. Even those with limited means often choose private schools over nearby government ones.” District Primary Education Officer Firoz Ahmed pointed to post-COVID changes and the closure of local maktabs, which he said have led many families to turn to madrasas.  On the conflicting enrolment data, he explained that district figures are used mainly for estimating the number of books required each year. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education & ICT) Fatema Sultana called the situation “alarming” and said steps will be taken in coordination with the district education office. The 2010 National Education Policy recommends one teacher for every 30 students.  A CPD survey says the national average is currently 1:29. Still, many schools in Feni with far fewer students remain without enough trained or motivated teachers. Primary schools reopen Although the government has implemented measures like stipends, free textbooks, mid-day meals, and school infrastructure development, enrolment in public primary schools in Feni continues to fall. The government has warned that schools with fewer than 50 students may be merged with nearby ones—highlighting the urgent need for action.      

Police have arrested a local BNP leader in Feni over the public humiliation of two women, who were allegedly forced to rub their noses on the ground as punishment for their sons’ suspected theft of pigeons. The accused, Delwar Hossain Delu, president of the BNP’s Panchgachia union unit under Feni Sadar upazila and a former union parishad chairman, was detained early Thursday, said Feni Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Mohammad Shamsuzzaman. The arrest followed a case filed on Wednesday by one of the victims, Sajeda Begum, at the Feni Model Police Station. The case names 13 people, including Delu and lists 10-12 unidentified individuals as accused. According to the case statement, the incident occurred on the night of May 1 during a local arbitration at Madhyam Mathiara village in Panchgachia union, arranged over the alleged theft of pigeons belonging to one Jahangir. 21 illegal wheelchairs seized from DMCH During the arbitration, Sajeda Begum and another woman, Johora Begum, were allegedly compelled to publicly touch their noses to the ground, a traditional form of humiliation, to atone for the supposed wrongdoing of their sons. Delu, who reportedly presided over the arbitration, is accused of hitting Sajeda with a stick in a sensitive part of her body and threatening both women to carry out the act of penance. A local court has also taken cognizance of the incident. Senior Judicial Magistrate Aparajita Das has directed Additional Superintendent of Police Md Saidur Rahman to investigate the matter and submit a report within 30 days. OC Shamsuzzaman said necessary legal action is underway.

An alarming crisis of fresh water has gripped Feni, with more than 1.67 lakh tube wells across the coastal district running dry amid intense heat and prolonged drought. Tens of thousands of residents without access to safe drinking water, posing serious public health risks and threatening agricultural output. According to the Feni District Public Health Engineering Department (DPHED), water is unavailable in 1,67,386 tube-wells due to the underground water layer dropping significantly. The crisis has intensified in several upazilas where around 70% of tube-wells have stopped producing water, and locals are being forced to fetch water from distant sources or consume unsafe water from ponds and ditches—leading to outbreaks of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases.  “There is no water in tube-wells, ponds, canals, or beels. Rain is the only solution,” said the department’s Executive Engineer Md Shafiul Haque. He attributed the crisis to climate change, excessive groundwater extraction for agriculture, and the absence of rain, which has caused the water table to fall drastically year after year. “If it rains, the water layer will rise again, and water will be available,” he added. Of the 36,811 registered tube wells in Feni, 9,871 have been long out of order. Among the remaining 26,941 active wells, nearly half have dried up. Additionally, more than half of approximately two lakh shallow tube wells installed privately are no longer producing safe water. Dhaka's Narai River: From majestic waterway to filthy dumping ground In August last year, devastating floods damaged 16,415 tube wells completely and 27,600 partially, and many of these have yet to be restored or repaired, according to SM Mahfuzur Rahman, sub-assistant Engineer at DPHED Feni.  “This has further worsened the safe water shortage in flood-affected areas,” he said. A visit to Fulgazi Upazila revealed a grim picture: shallow tube-wells at depths of 40–50 feet have completely dried up, leaving about 15,000 tube wells unusable. Many residents now travel long distances for water, and farmers are anxious about their Boro paddy yield due to the drought. “We spent so much on planting Boro rice seedlings, but cracks are forming in the soil due to the heat and lack of rain. Now we’re unsure if we’ll get a proper harvest,” said a local resident. Mohammad Abdullah Arman, sub-assistant Engineer at Fulgazi Upazila’s Public Health Engineering Department, said the upazila has 1,061 government shallow tube wells, 1,188 deep ones, and 887 submersible pump-equipped wells across 87 villages in six unions. In addition, there are about 17,000 private tube wells, 70% of which are no longer lifting water. “There’s no alternative system in place, so rainwater is our only hope,” he added.