17,000 hectares in Bhabadah freed from waterlogging, Boro cultivation underway: Rizwana

Farmers in the Bhabadah area of Abhaynagar upazila, Jashore, are experiencing a wave of relief as approximately 17,000 hectares of previously waterlogged land have been reclaimed, enabling them to cultivate Boro paddy this season.

The announcement came from Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, during a press briefing held at the Bhabadah Mahavidyalaya premises this afternoon (22 April).

Following an inspection of the sluice gate near Bhabadah, Rizwana expressed her satisfaction at the progress made. "We've managed to free 17,000 hectares of land from waterlogging and bring it under Boro paddy cultivation," she said, highlighting the visible joy and relief among the local farming community.

However, she stressed that this achievement is merely an initial step towards a lasting resolution. "Discussions have already started on finding a permanent solution to this problem. We are committed to choosing a path that will bring the most benefit to the people of this region," she affirmed.

Rizwana also said a feasibility study for a long-term solution to the region's persistent waterlogging issues has commenced. She credited the combined efforts of multiple ministries for the current progress. "With the combined efforts of several ministries, we've managed to free 17,000 hectares of land from waterlogging for now," she added.

Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Rizwana stressed the need for a permanent fix and assured that the interim government would engage with all relevant stakeholders to achieve this goal. "We will start working on a solution based on both public opinion and expert advice," she added.

To mitigate the suffering experienced by residents during the previous monsoon season, Rizwana announced imminent dredging activities. "We will start dredging the Amdanga Canal, Hori River, and Bhadra River before the rainy season," she said.

Furthermore, she highlighted measures taken to ease the burden on farmers, including ensuring non-commercial electricity rates for irrigation and the temporary suspension of loan repayments during periods of waterlogging.

The joint visit of several high-ranking advisers underscored the government's commitment to addressing the Bhabadah issue. "Since many of us visited the area together today, we can now share our observations at the national policy level," Rizwana noted.

Concluding on a hopeful note, she said, "At the very least, we expect to begin the journey toward a permanent solution to the Bhabadah problem during our time in office."

Present at the briefing were other key officials, including Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Agriculture; Faruq-e-Azam, adviser to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the chief adviser on defense and national reconciliation affairs; Nazmul Ahsan, secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources; Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarker; Md Rezaul Haque, deputy inspector general of police in Khulna range; Jashore Deputy Commissioner Md Azaharul Islam.

Before the press briefing, the advisers participated in a separate discussion organised by the Bangladesh Army at the Noapara Government College conference room, focusing on the Bhabadah waterlogging problem and potential solutions.