An irrigation crisis has emerged across hundreds of hectares of Boro farmland lying to the south of Jibdara Bazar, Shimulbak Union, in Sunamganj’s Shantiganj Upazila due to a lack of water. The farmlands are cracking due to water scarcity, and the drying up of water bodies in the Haor has caused severe distress for farming families, putting the crops at risk. Locals say the filling up of the water bodies in the Haor has caused the irrigation crisis. Farmers fear that if these water bodies are not dredged soon, the farmlands in the Haor will remain uncultivated in the future. According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, the Suraiya Beel water body in Ukargaon, Shimulbak Union, has 13.30 acres, but it is devoid of water. On a visit Monday morning, it was observed that hundreds of hectares of Boro farmland were spread across the Haor south of Jibdara Bazar. Farmers had planted Boro rice across the vast Haor, but there is a severe irrigation crisis. The Suraiya Beel water body in the middle of the Haor has no water, making it difficult to identify land and water bodies. The land has become filled with silt, and the water body is now indistinguishable from the land. There is no water left, and the little that was available has been used up by farmers in the past few days. Unregulated fishing devastates Jamalganj haors endangering biodiversity Haor farmer Md Enamul Haque said, "I have a lot of land in this Haor, and I have spent a lot of money cultivating it. Now, there is a severe irrigation crisis. The filling up of the Suraiya Bill water body has caused this hardship." Farmer Sohel Mia from Jibdara village said, "If there is no rain this year, harvesting the planted crops will be uncertain. If this water body is dredged, we will be able to grow rice, otherwise, all the land in this Haor will remain uncultivated next year." The villagers, who have leased the water body, have also been affected by its filling. They believe that dredging the water body would benefit both the government and the farmers. The government’s revenue would increase, and farmers would be able to grow crops. They have urged the government to expedite the dredging process. Sajirul Islam, president of the Jibdara Adarsha Fishers' Cooperative Society, the lessee of the Suraiya Beel water body, said, "At the start of the Boro season, farmers use the water from the water body for cultivation. However, the water body has completely filled up. Every year, we dredge some parts of the water body with our own funds to create ponds, but it is not sufficient. The water body needs to be dredged on a larger scale. We too have been affected as the lessees of the water body." Inoperative water regulators in Sunamganj haors threaten Boro crops Ahsan Habib, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said, "I will inform the Upazila Water Management Committee, and also notify the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to address the irrigation crisis. To achieve the target, uninterrupted Boro cultivation must continue." Sukanto Saha, Shantiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Water Management Committee President, said, "The filling up of the water body has caused this problem. However, no one has submitted a written request to me regarding this matter." He added, "Every water body needs to be dredged. If the locals apply for the dredging of the water body, we will verify it and grant permission for the dredging or arrange for it through a project."

Crop protection dam work in Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj is progressing at a snail’s pace, leaving farmers worried over the protection of Boro paddy. Although one month has elapsed since the start of the work the members of the Project Implementation Committees (PICs) for 86 dams in seven haors ihave not received the first installment of funds yet. According to Dharmapasha upazila administration, seven haors—Chandra Sonar Thal, Joydhana, Sonamorol, Kailani, Joydhana (2), Gurma, and Rui Beel—fall under the jurisdiction of the Sunamganj Water Development Board. The authorities allocated an amount of Tk 19.15 crore for the 86 crop protection dam projects in these haors. The members of the PICs for these 86 projects are still waiting for the first installment of funds. According to the policy, the construction and repairs of the dams were supposed to begin on December 15 last with the work scheduled to be completed by February 28. The work was inaugurated on December 15 but due to delayed water drainage from the haors, work began in the first week of January. The funds for the dam work are supposed to be distributed in four installments through cheques. As per the guidelines, 25% of the allocation is meant to be given as an advance before the work begins. Despite the passage of over a month, the PICs have not received any funds yet. Several farmers from the haor areas expressed concern saying that due to delays in forming the PICs and other preparatory work the dam construction started late, and the work is progressing slowly, putting their Boro crops at risk. On a field visit on Monday last, the correspondent found that work of at least ten crop protection dams in Chandra Sonar Thal and Rui Beel haors was moving at a slow pace. Read: Ballooning number of crop protection dams in Sunamganj haor region raises concern Soil was piled up in some areas, and only five to seven workers were present at each site. Salah Uddin, president of the project implementation committee for the 33rd dam in Chandra Sonar Thal, said that their dam, with a length of 990 meters, has been allocated over Tk 23.33 lakh. "We began the work on time, but we were supposed to receive 25% of the allocated amount before starting the work, however we haven't received a single taka yet. We are facing significant challenges and delays in completing the work. I've heard that the delay is due to the absence of the UNO, but we urgently need the first installment to continue the work," he added. Jahangir Alam, an assistant engineer in charge of overseeing the dam work, said the first installment of the funds has already been deposited in the bank. However, the delay in disbursing funds has been hampering the progress of the work, he said. Acting UNO and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Aliduzzaman said that the previous UNO was transferred on December 31, and a new UNO has been appointed.. “We hope the issue will be resolved in a few days," he said. Mamun Howlader, executive engineer of the Water Development Board in the district, said that he spoke to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) about the matter. Read more: Parts of Chandpur town protection dam collapse DC Mohammad Ilias Mia assured that the PICs would receive their first installment of funds within two to three days, he said. Crop protection dams are built to protect crops from early floods and landslides. Haors are wetland ecosystems found in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh. Sunamganj district is famous for its numerous haors.

Several hundred thousand residents in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj are going through severe hardship due to the poor condition of three major bridges over the Naljur River. These bridges, located in the heart of the upazila, have become increasingly unsafe, causing constant traffic jams and raising concerns over potential accidents. One of the main bridges, situated near the food warehouse in Naljur area, has been under construction for over a year and a half, after the old bridge was demolished. Despite initial promises, the new bridge is only about 60 percent complete, with no end in sight. Meanwhile, another bridge, the Dak Bungalow Bridge, is under threat due to increased vehicle pressure, and its narrowness is causing frequent traffic congestion. Hatirjheel: From scenic spot to a place of fear The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing use of an alternative Bailey Bridge, which operates under one-way traffic. The approach road to this bridge is in terrible condition, making it difficult to navigate. Adding to the problem, a bamboo bridge built for pedestrians next to the new bridge is rapidly deteriorating, making it almost impossible to walk across safely. Zakir Hossain, a local resident of the area, said "We are fed up with the constant demolition and delay of these bridges.”  “We’ve been living with this problem for too long, and the administration has not taken effective action," Zakir added. Another passerby, Shamim Ahmed, said that the crowd in the area has increased significantly after the Upazila Sadar was converted into a municipality. Siddhirganj Lake Project, supposed to be completed in 2021, still incomplete “Lakhs of people are suffering due to the pitiful condition of these bridges," he added. The issues surrounding these bridges have a long history. In 1987, the original bridge in front of the food warehouse was built with the initiative of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. However, during the tenure of the previous government, it was demolished, and on March 26, 2023, former Planning Minister MA Mannan laid the foundation for a new bridge, modeled after Hatirjheel in Dhaka. The project was estimated to cost Tk 14 crore and work was given to Kishoreganj-based contractor M/s Bhati Bangla Enterprise. However, despite the expectation that construction would be completed by April 2024, the work has been progressing at a slow pace, with only 60 percent of the work completed. Large influx of migratory birds enhances scenic charm of Ramrai Dighi in Thakurgaon Local residents raised concerns during the bridge's construction, warning that it might go under water during the monsoon and urged for it to be raised. However, their concerns were ignored, and the bridge sank during heavy rains and flash floods, causing traffic to be closed for three to four months each monsoon. Meanwhile, the construction of the Dak Bungalow Bridge on the same river began in 1988 with funds from locals and businessmen, and was completed in 1996 by LGED. In 2022, the bridge was damaged when an excavator accidentally cut through its pillar during river excavation work. This led to an 11-month closure of the bridge, with the only available traffic route being the damaged alternative bridge. Even after steel plates were installed to temporarily restore the Dak Bungalow Bridge, its condition remained precarious, and traffic was restricted due to the heavy vehicle load and rising water levels. Saiful Alam, site manager overseeing the construction of the new bridge, said that delays were partly due to the rising water levels in the river. Informal bargaining overtakes app-based ridesharing in Bangladesh! However, he assured that construction was now progressing rapidly and would be completed soon. "We expect the construction work of the bridge to be finished by February," said Sohrab Hossain, Jagannathpur Upazila Engineer at the Local Government Engineering Department. Once the new bridge is completed, it is hoped that the public suffering will ease. However, until then, the residents of Jagannathpur remain caught in a cycle of traffic chaos, safety concerns, and frustration over ongoing delays. Traffic congestion escalates in Narayanganj city due to rules violation

Normally the river erosion occurs in the monsoon, but surprisingly some 50 to 60 families of two unions in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj have lost their homesteads and other establishments over the past few days. The unseasonal erosion has taken a serious turn in the Kushiyara River for factors blamed on rampant soil cutting from the riverbanks for brick kilns.   Forty residents have relocated their establishments to save those from the erosion and many are still residing under the open sky. Many are still living on the riverbanks risking their lives. On the other hand, some left poles of houses and fences on homesteads hoping that those wouldn’t be affected.     Mongla Port Development: Work on Pashur Channel Dredging begins Besides, over 300 families of the unions, religious establishments, including mosques, temples, graveyards and cemeteries, and schools are under the erosion threat, caused after some influential took away soil from the river banks for brick kilns. Those yet to be affected are passing sleepless nights fearing the river erosions, urging the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to halt it. It was learned that the river is breaking intermittently from the Zero Point of the Raniganj Bridge of the river to Purbo Jalalpur, Bhangabari, Baghmaina for the past few months, swallowing up three to four kilometers of land. Visiting several areas of the unions, it was found that one Al Amin of Sonatala village in Pailgaon union and Faruk Mia, owner of Shapla Brick Field in Raniganj union, were illegally taking soil from the river banks. Locals alleged that Al Amin was selling soil regularly without caring for the administration. Erosion was going on in the Balisree and Bagmaina areas. Khulna farmers reap rewards from mustard cultivation, honey production Though GO bags have been thrown off the erosion continued, said the locals. Promod Das, a resident of Raniganj village, said he had a house but it had been swallowed up by the river at night. Bulai Robi Das, another villager, alleged that land grabbers were cutting soil from the riverbanks every year, resulting in the erosion. The land grabbers were doing the same job. Kalpana Rani Das said, "Who will build our house? We (husband and wife) both live in a small room. I may not be able to stay the night (Sunday). The house will be broken into the river. I can't say how we will stay, how we will live, who will feed us.” Seeking intervention from the administration, Balishi village’s Ashraful Haque said they held a human chain demanding an end to the erosion but had no cooperation from the Water Development Board and the Administration. Lamenting for the villages, Pailgaon Union Parishad’s Chairman Md Nazmuddin alleged that they apprised the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of the matter but no actions had been taken yet. Water Development Board’s Deputy Assistant Engineer Sabju Kumar Shill said they threw some GO bags into the river to resist the erosion.   Naogaon farmers make a fortune on mustard and honey Regarding the soil cutting, he warned that actions would be taken against those responsible.     Engineer Sabuj said they prepared a project, which is waiting for the final approval, to address the problem permanently by throwing GO bags and Blocks. Upazila Assistant Commissioner (AC-Land) Riyadh Bin Ibrahim Bhuiyan said they learned about the soil cutting from the riverbanks and assured of taking action against the accused. He ordered the authorities to look into the matter soon.

A Bangladeshi youth was killed by bullets  allegedly fired from the Indian side along Chinakandi border area in Bishwambharpur upazila  of Sunamganj on Wednesday. The deceased was identified Md Saidul Islam, 24, son of Joynal Abedin, a resident of Gamatola Khaspara East in Dhanpur union of the upazila. Sunamganj Battalion 28 BGB Commander AKM Zakaria Qadir said  it is still unconfirmed whether the shots were fired by BSF personnel or Indian Garos. A flag meeting has been scheduled between the Machimpur BOP and Karaigara BSF camp in India regarding the matter, he said. Caretaker’s body found in Faridpur with hands and feet tied Locals said Saidul Islam might have been killed by BSF possibly after an altercation between him and the BSF personnel while he was attempting to cross the border with betel nuts. He was rushed to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital where the attending physician Dr Shafiqur Islam  confirmed his death. The deceased had two gunshot wounds on his chest and stomach and the nature of the bullet will be determined following an autopsy, he said.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled Indian goods worth over Tk 94 lakh along the borders in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. The frontier force also seized a pickup van and a microbus during the drives which continued from 12 am on Tuesday to early Wednesday. However, no one could be detained in this connection, said a media release sent from the BGB-48 Battalion on Wednesday morning. Being tipped-off, several teams of the BGB conducted drives along Banglabazar, Panthumai, Sreepur, and Sonalichela areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts and recovered the smuggled items. Read: BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 147.84 cr in Dec The suspected smugglers left the vehicles abandoned after hearing the drives of the BGB. The recovery includes Indian sugar, oranges, betel nut, liquor and others, the media release says. The drives against smuggling will continue and security has been beefed up along borders, added the release.

Farmers in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district are struggling to cultivate Boro paddy due to waterlogging caused by a newly built road. More than a hundred farming families in Rouyail and Alampur villages are now worried about their crops. A complaint was filed with the Jagannathpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer on Thursday, highlighting the issue. According to the complaint, the water in Parua Haor, located in Rouyail village of Raniganj union, has not drained properly. This problem arose after the construction of the Balisree-Panachatal road by the Rouyail Hilalpur Water Management Cooperative Society Limited, a local cooperative society under the LGED, last year. During construction, no drainage provisions were made, leaving the haor waterlogged. Read: Bumper Boro paddy yield in Khulna’s saline land brings joy to farmers Zakir Hossain Jamal, a farmer from Rouyail village, said, "This is the ideal time for Boro cultivation, but the water in the haor is still knee-deep, making it impossible to plant paddy sapling. Farmers in both Rouyail and Alampur villages are extremely concerned about the Boro crop." Another farmer, Samuj Mia, explained, "The road was built without a drainage path, so the water is stuck. We have contacted the Water Management Cooperative Society many times but received no solution, which led us to file this complaint." Motaher Ali Nunu, General Manager of Rouyail Hilalpur Water Management Cooperative Society, said that the area where a culvert was planned to drain the water has now dried up. However, he assured farmers that the company is committed to supporting them in any efforts to resolve the issue. Read more: Govt to procure 17 lakh tonnes Boro paddy, rice Md. Barkat Ullah, Jagannathpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said that the Upazila LGED has been instructed to take immediate action. Local LGED official Sohbar Hossain added, "We are seriously looking into the matter."

Unchecked sand mining from the Chela River has resulted in devastating riverbank erosion, posting a grave threat to agricultural lands, educational institutions, markets and forcing many people to shift to other places.   The erosion has already devoured two villages and five more villages in Doarabazar upazila are facing threat. Local people have demanded the authorities’ immediate intervention to halt sand extraction from the river, which flows through Narsingpur union.   Visiting the erosion-hit areas, UNB the correspondent found that 30 families in Sarpinpara village on the northern bank of the Chela River have turned homeless. Farmers in Kishoreganj busy preparing seedbeds for Boro cultivation The victims included families of Azad Mia, Sanur Ali and Monir Hossain whose homes were washed away.   Besides, the river eroded 20 homesteads, a school and a customs office in Purbachairgaon village over the past one year as sand lifting from the river continued. It also devoured 50 homesteads and rural roads in Sonapur, Daulatpur, Rahimerpara and Sarpinpara villages.   Shahjahan, a resident of Purbachairgaon village, said he lost two acres of land and his home to the river in the past two years. Now, he and his family live in a loft on a land. “If sand mining isn’t stopped, no village along the Chela River will survive,” he said.   Azad Mia of Sarpinpara described how sand mining has left families destitute. “We’ve moved our home five times, but all our land is gone. The Chela River is swallowing us whole,” he lamented.   Azad Mia alleged that some unscrupulous people in collusion with local authorities are illegally extracting sand.  Union Parishad member Faiz Uddin of Rahimerpara village accused local influential people of profiting from sand mining at the cost of local lives and livelihoods.   "Even after 52 years of independence, the plight of the riverbank people has been ignored," said Faiz Uddin. He called for an immediate halt to sand mining leases and measures to protect the vulnerable areas.   ‘Bou-Jamai Mela’ celebrates rural tradition in Lalmonirhat Contacted, members of Sylhet Battalion 48 BGB denied allegations of their involvement, claiming that sand miners often evade their watch.   Narsingpur UP Chairman Nur Uddin Ahmed said that the number of people on the riverbanks who have lost their homes is increasing day by day. He warned that continued erosion could erase entire villages from the map.   Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ilias Mia said, "I have just heard that homes are being destroyed due to sand mining from the Chela River. Necessary measures will be taken to protect the area along the riverbanks."

Despite clear instructions from higher authorities, concerns are growing over the increasing number of crop protection dam projects in the haor (wetland) areas of Sunamganj district. Crop protection dams are built to protect crops from early floods and landslides. Haors are wetland ecosystems found in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh. Sunamganj district is famous for its numerous haors. Recently, the Adviser to the Ministry of Environment and Climate, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and the Chairman of the district committee for crop protection dams, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Ilias Mia, visited the region and instructed local officials to avoid taking up unnecessary projects. However, it appears that these directives are not being followed, with the number of approved projects continuing to rise. Jashore florists expect Tk 100 crore flower sales despite weather setbacks According to local government records, the number of approved crop protection dam projects in the haor region had ballooned to 675 by December 12, 2024, even though the initial plan was for 600 projects. It is likely the number may increase even further, potentially reaching 700 projects. This surge in projects comes despite previous statements by the authorities that only essential projects would be undertaken this year. The Water Development Board has also sought an initial allocation of Tk 125 crore from the government for the renovation and repair of 534 kilometers of crop protection embankments across 53 haors in the current season. The funds will be used to repair and renovate existing dams, as well as to address major breaches in the haor. The construction was set to begin on December 15 and is expected to be completed by December 28. Local residents and environmental groups have expressed concerns that many of these projects are unnecessary and could harm the natural balance of the haor ecosystem. Bitter cold grips Meherpur: Over 1,200 hospitalized, lack of warm clothing intensifies crisis In particular, the Haor Bachao Andolan (Save the Haors Movement) has protested against the ongoing increase in projects. The Haor Bachao Andolan held press conferences, rallies, and submitted memorandums, claiming that many of the dams are excessive and wasteful. One of the key allegations is that funds are being misused by approving projects for existing dams that are either intact or only slightly damaged, but are allocated as new, full-scale projects. It is also claimed that local political leaders and activists are using these projects as a way to access government funds, with some involved in bribery and corruption. Despite these allegations, the Sunamganj Water Development Board insists that it is taking extra care this time to ensure the proper implementation of the projects. Executive Engineer Mamun Hawlader said that there are strict instructions to avoid irregularities, and that the board is closely monitoring the process. However, local leaders remain skeptical. Senior members of the Haor Bachao Movement, including Jasim Uddin, have warned that the system remains vulnerable to manipulation. Key sections of Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in dire need of renovation Jasim accused some officials of using various tactics to approve unnecessary projects and divert funds. He also claimed that projects are being approved secretly, without transparency, which could lead to further corruption. Talking to UNB, Advocate Shishir Monir, a Supreme Court lawyer, called for greater public oversight of the project approval process. He suggested that the project list should be made public, and farmers should have a say in the decisions about the dams, through public hearings or social media platforms. He argued that this would prevent unnecessary projects and ensure that government funds are used effectively, without harming the environment. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Ilias Mia said that the government is committed to reducing corruption in the implementation of the crop protection dam projects. He said that monitoring committees have been formed across the district, and these committees will submit reports to ensure transparency and accountability. The controversy surrounding the crop protection dam projects highlights the ongoing tension between development needs, environmental concerns, and the proper use of government funds. While the authorities maintain that measures are in place to avoid mismanagement, local communities and environmentalists are adamant about the need to remain vigilant, demanding greater transparency and adherence to environmental guidelines. There are 95 haors in Sunamganj district, spread across 10 of its 11 upazilas.

Tourism businesses in Sunamganj are bouncing back gradually after suffering significant losses for over two months due to three rounds of flood and political instability. Restrictions in several tourist areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts redirected tourists to Sunamganj’s famed Haor region, including Tanguar Haor and the Tahirpur border areas, providing a much-needed boost to local businesses. Houseboat owners said they suffered losses amounting to around Tk 50 crore during this period. Tour operators said they are now facing overwhelming demand, with all houseboats fully booked in advance. Travel ban hits tourism businesses in CHT hard Popular tourist destinations like Tanguar Haor, Shaheed Siraj Lake (Niladri), Shimul Garden, and the Jadukata River are now filled with visitors. Aziz Sarkar, a banker from Rajshahi, expressed his amazement after exploring the region for the first time. “The Tanguar Haor has amazed us greatly. We are overjoyed. We have never seen such large haor before. The diversity of the haor, especially the settlements on its shores, and how they survive and live, has left a mark on our minds,” said Aziz, who came with a group of 36 people, most of whom are bank employees. Tourist Mahbuba Rahman Sathi, a tourist from Dhaka, said, “We had been planning to visit Tanguar Haor for a long time. The weather is good now, so we came. Our group consists of 12 family members. Sylhet is always beautiful, but the haor is even more beautiful. We’ve been touring in a houseboat since morning. It feels great.” However, the region’s poor road infrastructures are challenge for visitors, said some tourists. Moulvibazar Travel Guide: Explore the Top Tourist Attractions “The road from Sunamganj to Tahirpur is in bad shape. Women and children, in particular, had a hard time getting here. These things stand as obstacles to the development of tourist areas,” said Manjurul Islam Soumik from Feni. He also raised concerns about the lack of visible tourist police and disconnected phone numbers listed on safety sign boards. Responding to these complaints, Habibur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of the Tourist Police in Sunamganj, explained that his mobile phone had been out of service due to damage but is now operational. “We have 8 members. The tourist police are working round the clock to ensure the safety of tourists,” he said. Arian Emon, CEO of Haimanti Houseboat, said, “We have incurred losses of around Tk 50 crore in the past two months. Currently, due to the restrictions in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari tourists are coming to the Haor. All our boats are fully booked. Many are still trying to book. There’s now a festive atmosphere in the Haor,” he said. Trip to Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj: Majestic aquatic beauty soaking the horizon