Floodwaters swallow haor harvest in Sunamganj, leaving farmers counting losses

Farmer Jhontu Das of Bhandabil Haor in Shalla upazila of Sunamganj cultivated paddy on 240 decimals of land. He has managed to harvest only about half; the rest remains uncut as rising water has submerged his fields.

"The haor is now under water. We can't harvest – there are no workers, and machines can't enter the fields," he said. Jhontu fears the remaining crop may be lost entirely. "If it stays submerged for a few more days, it will rot. I won't even recover my production cost. I don't know how I'll survive the year."

While Jhontu has salvaged part of his harvest, others are worse off. Matin Mia of nearby Gungiajuri Haor in Nabiganj upazila said flash floods struck just as he began cutting his crop. "Everything went under water," he said, adding that he now faces uncertainty over repaying loans and supporting his family.

Similar distress is unfolding across the haor region in Sylhet, where farmers depend almost entirely on a single boro crop. With fields inundated at the peak of harvest season, that lifeline is slipping away.

Sunamganj – one of the country's largest boro-producing districts – has been hit particularly hard. Rayhan Uddin, a farmer from Jatgaon village in Shalla, said more than half of his fields are submerged. "I can't find labourers, and even the paddy I cut can't be dried because of continuous rain," he said.

Rivers swelling due to rain

Persistent rainfall and upstream inflows have pushed up river levels, heightening fears of further flooding.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board, water levels in the Surma, Kushiyara, Piyain and Sari-Goyain rivers have risen at several points in Sylhet. In Sunamganj, the Surma rose by about 50cm at the Golghor point in the past 24 hours, though it remains below the danger level. In contrast, the Manu River in Moulvibazar is flowing 72cm above the danger mark.

Officials say that while rivers have yet to cross danger levels in most areas, continued rainfall and upstream flows from India could worsen the situation.

Questions over damage estimates

Official data from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) shows harvesting in Sunamganj reached 28.48% on 25 April, 35.24% on 26 April, 41.21% on 27 April, and 44.50% on 28 April. Farmers and Haor-based organisations, however, say these figures do not reflect reality, as continuous rain and lightning since 25 April have severely disrupted harvesting.

Mizanur Rahman, president of the Sunamganj Haor, River and Environment Protection Movement, said waterlogging began about a month ago and intensified sharply after heavy rain over the past few days. "Even harvested paddy stacked in the fields is now under water," he said, adding that both standing and cut crops are being damaged.

He questioned the DAE's estimate that 6,606 hectares have been affected, claiming that at least 30,000 hectares of boro paddy have already been damaged. He also disputed claims made at a recent disaster management meeting that 50-60% of the harvest had been completed. "That is far from the reality on the ground," he said, noting that the movement's Upazilla-based committees have assessed losses by consulting farmers directly.

Professor Chittaranjan Talukdar, vice-president of the Haor Protection Movement, echoed Mizanur's concerns. He said official statistics underestimate the damage, potentially depriving affected farmers of government support. "There is a clear mismatch between official reports and the situation in the fields," he added.

On the authenticity of official statistics, Md Omar Faruk, deputy director of the DAE in Sunamganj, said field officials are collecting data directly from affected areas. He, however, acknowledged that adverse weather, labour shortages and the inability to use harvesting machines have slowed harvesting over the past few days.

Call for urgent assistance

The upazila agriculture office in Shantiganj has appealed to organisations and volunteers to help farmers harvest their crops urgently.

In a statement, the office said haor residents rely heavily on boro cultivation for their livelihoods. Excessive rainfall has left many fields waterlogged, delaying harvesting and raising the risk of widespread crop loss.

Political parties, volunteer groups, educational institutions and local residents have been urged to step in and assist farmers through coordinated efforts.

Losses spread beyond Sunamganj 

In Kawadighi Haor of Moulvibazar, large swathes of boro fields have also been submerged due to heavy rain and upstream water.

Farmers say the situation has shattered their hopes during the harvest season. Many invested heavily this year in fertiliser, seeds, irrigation and labour, only to see their crops go under water. With loans to repay, uncertainty looms large.

The boro crop in Bagerhat has been affected too. Deputy Director of the DAE in the district Md Motahar Hossain said boro paddy has been cultivated on 68,000 hectares this season, but only 14,000 hectares have been harvested so far. He added that 8-10% of the crop has already been damaged and warned that losses will rise if rainfall continues.

In Cumilla, 1,733 hectares of paddy fields were submerged. Another 550 hectares of maize,

235 hectares of aush seedbeds, and 364 hectares of summer vegetables were destroyed, according to agriculture officials.