United News of Bangladesh

The government has undertaken a Tk 1,064.26 crore project to widen and upgrade  Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari Regional Highway in a bid to improve road safety, strengthen connectivity and boost economic activities in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division will implement the project, titled “Widening and Upgradation of Rangamati (Manikchhari)–Mahalchhari–Khagrachhari Regional Highway (R-162).” A 3.6km road, 54 years of waiting in Lalmonirhat The entire cost will be financed by the government from its own funds and the work is expected to be completed by December, 2029. Officials said the 61.50-kilometre highway, which falls under the Rangamati Road Circle, connects key areas of Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts in Chattogram division. The project area includes Rangamati Sadar and Naniarchar upazilas in Rangamati district and Khagrachhari Sadar and Mahalchhari upazilas in Khagrachhari district. According to project documents, about 14.85 km of the road currently has a width of 5.50 metres, while the remaining 46.65 km is only 3.7 metres wide—far below the standard required for a regional highway. Road to Heaven: Gujarat’s surreal highway flanked by water and salt pans The 38.35 km stretch from Rangamati to Mahalchhari was originally constructed around 1986 under the Chengi Valley Project. Later, the 23.15 km section from Mahalchhari to Khagrachhari was developed by the Khagrachhari Road Division with government funding. Despite being classified as a regional highway, the road has not been upgraded to standard width and specifications, leading to frequent accidents and growing concerns among local residents and transport operators. Under the new project, major works will include earth filling, strengthening and widening of the existing pavement, raising pavement levels, and constructing approach roads. Bituminous binder and wearing courses will also be laid. Besides, rigid pavement and bus bays will be constructed at selected locations, while RCC retaining walls, brick masonry guide walls, concrete guide posts and guardrails will be installed to improve road safety. The project will also involve construction of new culverts, extension of existing culverts, installation of V drains and U drains, boundary walls, tree plantation and relocation of utility services. Officials said the improved highway would help establish a safer, more comfortable and time-efficient road network in the region. A Planning Commission official said the project would significantly upgrade the standard of the existing road infrastructure through widening and strengthening of the regional highway. “Once implemented, the project will help establish an improved, safe, comfortable and cost-effective road network in the region,” the official said. He added that the upgraded highway would facilitate faster transportation of locally produced goods to Chattogram port city and other parts of the country, reducing both travel time and transportation costs. The improved connectivity is also expected to create employment opportunities, accelerate socio-economic development in the hill districts and unlock greater potential for tourism in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Stakeholders believe the project will play a crucial role in integrating the remote hill areas with the national road network and improving overall mobility in the region.

A government project aimed at providing training and rehabilitation for destitute children remains incomplete more than three years after its original deadline, prompting authorities to seek yet another extension for its completion. The government has moved to extend the implementation period of the project titled “Reconstruction of Destitute Children Training and Rehabilitation Centre, Konabari, Gazipur (1st Revised)” for the fourth time, pushing the deadline to June 2026 without increasing the project cost. Gazipur Agricultural University to receive major upgrade worth Tk 567cr The initiative, undertaken by the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare, is part of the government’s social protection efforts and is fully financed by the government. The project seeks to ensure the constitutional rights of destitute children by providing a safe, child-friendly living environment along with education, care and skills training so they can become self-reliant and eventually integrate into mainstream society. Initially approved in July 2019 with a budget of Tk 81.66 crore, the project’s cost was later revised upward to Tk 92.23 crore under its first revision. The original completion deadline was set for June 2022. However, the timeline has been extended multiple times — first to June 2023, then to June 2024 and later to June 2025 — all without any additional financial allocation. Officials say the latest proposal would grant another year to complete the remaining work while keeping the overall cost unchanged. It involves reconstruction of the existing training and rehabilitation centre, construction of new facilities and creation of a supportive environment for vulnerable children. Planned activities include construction of non-residential buildings, procurement of machinery and equipment, and purchase of furniture for dormitories and guest rooms. Authorities attribute the repeated delays to a combination of factors, including the lengthy process of appointing a consultancy firm, revisions to the master plan, recruitment of manpower and procedural delays linked to demolition of old structures and tree cutting. These issues delayed the start of physical construction works. Despite the setbacks, officials say notable progress has been achieved. Civil works procurement was completed through three packages, with work orders worth about Tk 71.81 crore issued — representing nearly 88 percent of the total project cost. Construction activities are currently underway and overall implementation progress has reached around 80 percent, according to official estimates. However, officials noted that physical work stalled for a period due to prevailing circumstances. The project also did not receive any allocation under the Annual Development Programme for the 2024–25 fiscal year, preventing any expenditure between July 2024 and March 2025. Funding was restored only in April 2025 through the Revised ADP. Officials say the lack of funding during that period made it impossible to complete the remaining work by the June 2025 deadline or to fully utilise the allocation within the existing timeline. The project has now been included in the ADP for the 2025–26 fiscal year with a token allocation of Tk 0.01 crore. As of October 2025, cumulative expenditure stood at Tk 77.32 crore, indicating financial progress of 83.83 percent and physical progress of about 85 percent. Officials expressed hope that the additional time would allow completion of the remaining work and enable the centre to begin providing full training and rehabilitation services to destitute children as originally planned.

Persistent complications in land acquisition and repeated alignment adjustments have pushed the implementation timeline of a project linked to Dhaka–Sylhet–Tamabil highway , forcing the government to extend the deadline for the fourth time. The project titled “Land Acquisition and Utility Relocation in Support of Dhaka (Kanchpur)–Sylhet–Tamabil Highway Four-Laning with Separate Service Lanes on Both Sides (1st Revised)” will now run until December 2027, nearly seven years beyond its original completion target. The project spans seven districts and 25 upazilas in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. It aims to complete land acquisition and relocate utilities in advance to facilitate the eventual expansion of the Dhaka–Sylhet–Tamabil highway into a six-lane corridor with separate service lanes on both sides. Officials said the project, implemented by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division has faced persistent delays since it was approved in September 2018 with an initial deadline of December 2020. Workers block Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Rupganj over unpaid wages According to project documents, the slow pace of land acquisition remains the main obstacle. The original acquisition plan was prepared using outdated State Acquisition (SA) maps. Since then, most corresponding Bangladesh Survey (BS) records have been published, forcing authorities to revise the acquisition proposals in line with the latest mouza maps as required under the Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act, 2017. Officials said converting the earlier SA-based plans into updated BS maps proved technically complex and time-consuming, significantly slowing implementation. The process became even more complicated after several new government and strategic installations were built along the proposed alignment following the project’s approval. These include the Shah Paran (R) Mazar Gate, parts of  Sylhet Cantonment, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) office, and other key establishments. Road to Heaven: Gujarat’s surreal highway flanked by water and salt pans Their construction forced repeated adjustments to the highway alignment, requiring fresh land acquisition proposals and additional administrative approvals. Legal disputes over land ownership have also contributed to the delay. In several land acquisition (LA) cases, inconsistencies between ownership records from different surveys particularly RS and BS records resulted in multiple claimants for the same plots. These disputes have led to court cases that are still pending, preventing authorities from completing acquisition and handing over land in several sections of the highway. Officials involved in the project said such legal complications often take years to resolve under existing procedures, further prolonging the acquisition process. Despite these setbacks, the project has made some progress where land-related obstacles have been cleared. Hili land port highway upgrade delayed again, cost jumps to Tk 588cr As of October 2025, cumulative spending reached Tk 5,782.90 crore, accounting for 72.51 percent of the total revised cost. Financial and physical progress are reported at the same level, indicating that implementation has advanced in available sections. The project’s revised cost now stands at Tk 7,975.31 crore, up from the originally approved Tk 3,885.72 crore, with the entire funding coming from the government. In the 2025–26 fiscal year, the project received an allocation of Tk 748.22 crore under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil road corridor forms part of the Asian Highway-1 route, designed to connect India’s Meghalaya and West Bengal with Bangladesh through the Tamabil-Sylhet-Kanchpur-Dhaka-Jashore-Benapole corridor. The initiative also includes construction of new bridges and flyovers. Implemented in phases by Chinese and local joint ventures, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time and strengthen regional trade and economic activity. Experts say repeated deadline extensions reflect deeper structural weaknesses in project preparation, particularly inadequate initial surveys, reliance on outdated land records and insufficient anticipation of future urban and institutional developments.

The escalating military tensions in the Middle East centered around Iran, Israel, and the United States have sent shockwaves through the Bangladeshi economy, sparking a sharp rise in energy costs and leaving thousands of tons of export goods stranded. As the conflict threatens the vital Strait of Hormuz, economists and business leaders warn of a multi-dimensional crisis involving fuel shortages, record-high shipping costs, and a potential spike in domestic inflation. President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mahmud Hasan Khan said that all entrepreneurs are concerned about export and import in the Middle East conflict. “We are talking with the government and foreign buyers on export shipment, along with watching the situation,” he said. The same opinion was echoed by the president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Muhammad Hatem, who said that export is also involved with import. So, both need a sustainable environment for smooth business. Any kind of disruption in export-import or energy supply uncertainty will affect business severely, he said. On Wednesday (March 4), global oil prices hit their highest levels since early 2025. Brent crude rose to US $82.53 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to $75.37. For Bangladesh, which relies on the Middle East for nearly 90 percent of its fuel imports, the stakes are high. The Strait of Hormuz serves as the gateway for one-fifth of the world’s oil and significant LNG supplies. Any prolonged disruption here directly impacts Bangladesh’s power generation, transport costs, and foreign exchange reserves. Northern region farmers struggle as potato prices crash below production cost The conflict has created a logistical nightmare at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Chittagong Port. Major airlines from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE have suspended cargo operations from Dhaka. Over 1,200 tons of export goods, primarily Ready-Made Garments (RMG), are currently stuck at the airport. Shipping lines, including the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), have halted new bookings for Middle East-bound containers. Over 1,000 containers filled with frozen fish, processed food, and plastic goods are stranded across various ports. The "war premium" is already being felt in the kitchen market. Importers report that the cost of transporting palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia has jumped by $8-$10 per ton.  "The war’s duration is uncertain, but the impact is immediate," says Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at CPD. "While the initial hiccup is in logistics, the long-term threat is energy security. We must prepare an emergency roadmap for alternative sourcing,” he added. The conflict exposes several critical vulnerabilities for Bangladesh, such as supply chain rerouting. Vessels are being forced to take the Cape of Good Hope route, adding 5,000 kilometers to journeys, significantly increasing freight charges and delivery times. The textile industry faces delays in importing cotton from Western markets, while the plastic sector is struggling with blocked petrochemical shipments. Beyond trade, the safety and stability of the millions of Bangladeshi expatriates working in the Gulf remains a looming concern for the country’s remittance inflow. Restoring law & order, investors' confidence biggest challenge for Bangladesh business Business leaders and economists, including Dr. Selim Raihan of SANEM, are urging the government to engage in immediate tripartite consultations with researchers and traders. While the government maintains that there are several weeks of fuel and grain reserves, experts argue that "strategic stockpiling" and "source diversification" are no longer optional. If the tensions in the Persian Gulf do not subside quickly, Bangladesh may face a period of forced austerity and heightened economic volatility.

For more than five decades, residents of several villages in Palashi Union under Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat have been waiting for a simple yet crucial development—a paved road. The 3.6-kilometre road connecting Taluk Palashi, Malmali Bazar, Nityanand and Bawair Chora villages to the Union Parishad and the upazila headquarters has remained largely neglected for 54 years despite repeated assurances from political leaders. For the thousands of villagers who rely on the road, the broken path has become a daily obstacle affecting their access to schools, markets, hospitals and other essential services. The road runs past Palashi Government Primary School and serves as the only link between the villages and the main administrative centre. Yet the route remains a narrow, uneven dirt track that becomes nearly unusable during the rainy season, said locals. In the dry months, residents manage to travel on foot or by bicycle but during monsoon, heavy mud and water-filled potholes make the road extremely risky, they said Villagers say many people have been injured after slipping or falling while trying to cross the muddy stretch. The poor road condition also disrupts everyday social and family activities. Housewife Zarina Begum said even funeral processions face difficulties reaching the villages during the rainy season. “Sometimes wedding arrangements get delayed because guests cannot travel easily,” she said. “Once a pregnant woman died because the van carrying her to hospital overturned after hitting a pothole.” Farmers say the road’s condition also affects their livelihoods. Farmer Moksedul Islam, the cost of transporting agricultural produce to markets increases two to three times due to the poor road condition. “Even when we have a good harvest, much of the income is lost because transportation becomes expensive and difficult,” he said. Ambulances and fire service vehicles often fail to reach the villages during the monsoon, leaving residents vulnerable during emergencies. Fisherman Robiul Islam said the road has not seen any significant repair work for decades. “The last patchwork was done about 35 years ago. Since then, no proper maintenance or construction work has taken place,” he said. Retired school teacher Mazaharul Islam said several former lawmakers and ministers had pledged to develop the road, yet no visible progress followed. He added that even after the road was given an official identification number and surveys were conducted by the Local Government Engineering Department, the long-awaited construction work did not begin. For expatriate residents originally from the area, the continued neglect is particularly disappointing. Aminur Rahman, who now lives abroad, said the union has made significant progress in education, fisheries and agriculture, but the road connecting these villages remains unchanged. “It is frustrating to see such a small but important road still neglected after so many years,” he said. Aditmari Upazila Engineer Fazlul Haq said the road is an important route that should have been paved long ago. He said a proposal has already been submitted to the ministry and the project will begin once funding is approved.

A sharp fall in potato prices at the start of the harvesting season has plunged farmers in the northern region into deep uncertainty, with many forced to sell their produce at rates lower than production costs. Growers say the situation has left them counting losses instead of profits as market prices fail to cover rising expenses for seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, labour and transportation. In Rangpur City Market on Sunday, potatoes were retailing at Tk 10–12 per kilogram while production costs range between Tk 14 and Tk 22 per kilogram. Farmers claim they are incurring losses of Tk 2–3 per kg on average, with wholesale prices hovering at Tk 15–17 per kg. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh produced 1.15 crore tonnes of potatoes in the 2024–25 fiscal year, of which 87 lakh tonnes came from Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. The production target for the current season stands at around 84 lakh tonnes. Farmers in major potato-producing districts such as Rajshahi, Bogura, Rangpur and Pabna said input costs have surged compared to last year, pushing overall production expenses to Tk 18–22 per kg. Sujan Rahman, a farmer from Gangachara upazila in Rangpur, said he cultivated potatoes this season hoping to offset last year’s losses. “But the market price is so low that I cannot even recover my costs,” he lamented. Mizanur Rahman of Kaunia upazila said early-season planting is usually aimed at securing better prices. “However, unsold potatoes from last year are still in the market, reducing demand for new crops,” he said. In Lalmonirhat’s Kaliganj upazila, Hasim Mia cultivated Cardinal potatoes on 18 bighas of land at a cost of Tk 22 per kg. BGMEA thanks govt for releasing Tk 2,500 crore in export incentives “Now I can only sell them at Tk 15–18 per kg,” he said expressing frustration over mounting losses. Farmers attribute the price slump to leftover stock from the previous season, weak market management and a lack of adequate cold storage facilities. They also allege that syndicate dominance and excess production have compounded the crisis. Market insiders said traders are reluctant to procure potatoes in bulk due to limited export opportunities and high storage costs. As a result, supply continues to outpace demand, driving prices further down. Shahin Mia, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Marketing in Rangpur Division, said potato cultivation has slightly decreased compared to last year, which may help stabilise supply and prices later in the season. However, Sirajul Islam, additional director of the DAE in Rangpur, said cultivation this year exceeded the target by about 25,000 hectares, contributing to the oversupply. Agricultural experts warn that unless export markets are expanded and better market management ensured, potato growers will continue to suffer recurring losses. They urged the government to take urgent, farmer-friendly measures to protect the sector and safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of farming families dependent on potato cultivation in the north.

A government housing project in Narayanganj launched nearly a decade ago to ease accommodation shortages for public servants remains incomplete despite repeated deadline extensions. The project, titled “Construction of 672 Residential Flats in Eight 15-Storey Buildings for Government Officers and Employees at Aliganj, Narayanganj (2nd Revised)”, is being implemented by the Public Works Department (PWD) under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Under the latest extension, the completion deadline has been pushed to June 2026. The original implementation period was set from January 2016 to June 2019. Project documents show that the timeline was first extended to June 2020, and subsequently to June 2021, June 2022 and June 2023 — all without cost escalation.  Under the second revised approval, the tenure was extended to June, 2025. The most recent decision has again deferred completion to June, 2026, still without any additional expenditure. The project is being developed on 11.65 acres of PWD land at Aliganj in Narayanganj Sadar upazila, around five kilometres from Jatrabari in Dhaka.  Of the total land, 5.70 acres comprise the area locally known as the Aliganj playground. The initial approved cost was Tk 398.16 crore. Following the first revision, the cost rose to Tk 402.43 crore, and under the second revision it increased marginally to Tk 404.04 crore. The project is fully financed by the government. Officials concerned said the latest extension was necessitated by delays in completing the 15-storey buildings and associated works, including internal sanitation and water supply systems, gas connections and electrical installations. Once completed, the project is expected to provide 672 modern flats for government officers and employees.  Authorities say the initiative aims to address housing shortages, ensure proper utilisation of government land and enhance public service delivery by improving living facilities for public servants. Earlier, the then planning minister had assured that the project would be completed by June 2019. The construction has not been without controversy.  The buildings are being erected on land widely known as the Aliganj playground.  At the initial stage, local residents — including freedom fighters, sports organisers and youth groups — staged protests, formed human chains and submitted a mass petition to the district administration seeking cancellation of the project.  Despite the opposition, construction work continued.

For the past 17 years, residents of Bhitorband union in Nageshwari upazila have been crossing Duburir canal on a fragile wooden plank structure — a risky substitute for a bridge that collapsed in 2008 and has yet to be rebuilt. Once the bridge on the Jamtalapara–Kachuarpaar–Madaikhal connecting road served as a vital link for thousands of people in the area.  Now it stands as a reminder of stalled development and unfulfilled promises. In the absence of government intervention, villagers — with support from local public representatives — installed a temporary wooden platform over the damaged structure to keep communication between the two sides alive.  But time and weather have taken their toll. The makeshift crossing has grown increasingly unstable, swaying under the weight of pedestrians and turning dangerously slippery during rains and floods.  Locals fear that a serious accident could happen at any moment. Locals said, two bridges were built at the same location with funds from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.  But due to limited budget allocations and alleged substandard construction both were washed away by strong currents within two to three years of completion. The last bridge, constructed in 2006, was completely destroyed in the devastating floods of 2008.  Since then, no effective initiative has been taken to rebuild a permanent structure. Hashem Ali, a local trader, said the bridge is now barely usable. “We have to take long detours to transport patients or pregnant women to hospital. Auto-rickshaws cannot pass through. We face severe problems carrying fertiliser, raw materials and harvested paddy,” he said.  

Known for its scenic landscape but constrained by poor road infrastructure, Sylhet division is poised for a major overhaul as the government moves ahead with a Tk 1,952 crore project to upgrade and widen crucial upazila and union roads. The project , titled “Widening and Strengthening of Important Upazila and Union Roads in Sylhet Division,” will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division with full funding from the Government of Bangladesh. Scheduled for completion by June 2029, the project will cover all 41 upazilas in the division’s four districts, aiming to modernise rural connectivity, boost economic activity and support agricultural growth. Strengthening rural backbone Officials said the project seeks to develop a more durable and efficient rural road network by widening and strengthening existing upazila and union roads. Many of these roads currently lack sufficient width and structural capacity to handle increasing traffic, including heavy vehicles transporting goods to markets. The upgraded roads—constructed using bituminous concrete (BC) and reinforced cement concrete (RCC)—are expected to ensure smoother and safer movement of goods and passengers. A senior official at the Planning Commission described the initiative as a strategic investment in the rural economy. “Once implemented, the project will significantly improve transport infrastructure in Sylhet division. It will make it easier to market agricultural and non-agricultural products, increase economic activities and create employment opportunities,” the official said. The project includes construction of new bridges and reconstruction of old ones on upazila and union roads to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. Culverts will be built and rehabilitated to improve drainage and road durability while protective structures such as guide walls, CC blocks and toe walls will be installed to prevent erosion and structural damage. Intersection improvements, level crossing upgrades and necessary earthworks are also planned to ensure long-term sustainability of the network. Boost to agriculture, trade Sylhet, located in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh, has seen steady growth in agriculture, services and small-scale industries. Large volumes of tea, rice, fish and other agricultural products are transported via rural roads to regional highways and national markets. However, poor road conditions have often led to higher transport costs, longer travel times and reduced profitability for farmers and traders. Officials said improved road capacity and enhanced safety will enable faster, more efficient transportation, helping producers secure fairer prices and reduce post-harvest losses. The project is also expected to generate both short-term employment during construction and long-term economic benefits through expanded trade and investment. Supporting tourism growth Sylhet is one of the country’s leading tourism hubs, drawing visitors to destinations such as Jaflong, Ratargul Swamp Forest and Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar. With rising tourist arrivals, traffic on rural and upazila roads has increased substantially, placing additional pressure on existing infrastructure. The planned upgrades are expected to ensure smoother and safer travel for visitors while improving access to remote and previously less-connected areas—potentially opening up new tourism opportunities. A long-term regional impact Experts say the large-scale rural road investment could accelerate regional development by strengthening links between villages and urban centres, facilitating trade and improving access to education, healthcare and other essential services. British High Commissioner acknowledges Sylhet's 'special relationship' with UK As population density and economic activity continue to grow in Sylhet division, improved connectivity is seen as critical to sustaining development momentum. Once completed, the Tk 1,952 crore project is expected to significantly enhance rural mobility, stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods across the division—marking one of the largest rural road infrastructure investments in Sylhet in recent years.

A severe water crisis has gripped vast areas of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj where nearly 80 percent of tube wells have run dry amid prolonged drought and a sharp decline in groundwater levels. With more than 12,000 of the upazila’s approximately 18,000 tube wells no longer yielding water, over 100,000 residents in more than 300 villages are facing acute hardship in accessing safe drinking water, according to local sources and official data. The crisis spans in 13 unions including Bhatgaon, Kalaruka, Chharmahalla, Singchapair, Dolarbazar, Chaila-Afzalabad, Gobindaganj-Saidergaon, Uttar and Dakshin Khurma, Noarai, Islampur, Chhatak Sadar and Jaubazar. Officials say groundwater levels have fallen abnormally to depths between 200 and 300 feet, rendering most shallow and even some deep tube wells ineffective. Long Walks for Water With tube wells failing to produce water despite repeated pumping, women, children and elderly residents are being forced to walk several kilometres daily to collect water from distant sources. Many households have resorted to boiling pond water for drinking and cooking. Health workers said reliance on untreated surface water has led to a rise in diarrhoea, fever and skin diseases in the affected communities. Junaed Ahmed of Multanpur village in Jaubazar union said that 15 years ago water could be found at a depth of 500 feet but now even drilling to 700 feet does not guarantee supply. “Even after pumping several times a day, no water comes out,” he said. In Gilachhara village of Uttar Khurma union, Arjad Ali described the situation as desperate. “We are surviving by boiling pond water. There is no other option,” he said. Schools Also Affected The crisis has also disrupted educational institutions. A head teacher of a local school said that for nearly a month none of the school’s tube wells has been functional. “We are compelled to boil pond water for limited use,” he said. Environmental Degradation Blamed Residents alleged that years of canal encroachment, filling up of ponds, destruction of natural water bodies in haor and beel areas, and reduced river flow have contributed to the rapid depletion of groundwater. They also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the allocation of government deep tube wells. In some cases, tube wells meant for public use were allegedly installed on privately owned land, limiting access for the wider community. Shimul bloom draws thousands to Sunamganj; exposes infrastructure strain Md Ishaq Ali, sub-assistant engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering, said groundwater levels have dropped far below normal. “Earlier, water was available at 400 feet. Now even at 700 feet it is uncertain. Installation of new deep tube wells is underway under government initiatives,” he said. Chhatak Upazila Nirbahi Officer Diplomacy Chakma said the administration is reviewing the situation and will take necessary measures to address the crisis. Locals said the situation may worsen unless urgent steps are taken to restore water sources and ensure sustainable groundwater management in the haor belt.