United News of Bangladesh

After weeks of cold and fog, bright sunshine has returned to Narail, breathing new energy into the district’s Boro paddy fields. Farmers are now working from dawn to dusk, transplanting seedlings across the region in what has become a season of full swing for Boro cultivation. Favourable weather conditions over the past two weeks have created an ideal environment for farming. According to local growers, there is currently no shortage of seedlings, fertiliser, or irrigation facilities, making this the smoothest peak Boro season in recent years. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reports that Boro paddy is being cultivated on a record-breaking area this season, surpassing the past three years. Farmers recalled early-season challenges when persistent cold and dense fog had delayed transplantation. However, the recent sunny spell has rejuvenated fields and spirits alike, encouraging farmers to accelerate planting. Ibrahim Sheikh of Chougachha village in Sadar upazila said he is transplanting Boro seedlings on 180 decimals of land, noting that there is no shortage of seedlings. Another local farmer, Ataur Rahman, has cultivated three acres of Boro paddy and described the current weather as ‘very favourable’. Tk 1,300cr GK irrigation rehabilitation project aims to revive southwest agriculture Seventy-five-year-old Badsha Sheikh is preparing his land by ploughing and leveling before transplantation, while Mohammad Murad noted that power tillers have largely replaced cattle for land preparation, reducing both time and costs. Sagar Sheikh, cultivating the high-yielding Rod Miniket variety on 135 decimals of land, highlighted its good yield, market price, and quality straw as reasons for his choice. Farmers across Narail confirmed that fertilizers, pesticides, and electricity-powered irrigation facilities are available in sufficient quantities, and that hardly any cultivable land is being left fallow this season. “If the weather remains favourable and input supplies continue until the end of the season, we are hopeful for a good harvest,” said a local grower. Deputy Director of DAE, Narail, Muhammad Arifur Rahman, said that a target has been set to cultivate Boro paddy on 50,297 hectares in the 2025–26 season. In comparison, cultivation covered 50,280 hectares in 2024–25 and 50,230 hectares in 2023–24. Over the last three years, Boro cultivation has increased by 67 hectares. Illegal topsoil extraction threatens ‘Gaillar Haor’, croplands in Sunamganj This year, seedbeds have been prepared on 2,635 hectares, of which about 60 percent are standard seedbeds, further indicating there is no shortage of seedlings, Arif added. With favourable weather and adequate resources, Narail’s farmers are poised for a productive Boro season, continuing the district’s steady rise in paddy cultivation, he said.

Farmers rescued an eight-feet long python from a paddy field in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district on Saturday, said the district administration.  The snake was rescued at noon from a field in Mothergor area in the upazila, said Dr Motaharul Islam, upazila livestock officer.  Habibur Rahman, a local farmer, found the python in his field while harvesting paddy and rescued it with the help of other farmers.  READ: Python found at 12 BGB HQ handed over to Forest Dept The python has been kept under the custody of Nowdabas Union Parishad for now, said Dr Motaharul Islam.  Nazir Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said “We immediately sent police to the spot when we received the information. The snake has been rescued and forest department officials will release it later into Shal forest.” 

Three people were killed and 15 others sustained injuries after being struck by lightning while working on a paddy field in the Kalagaon area of the district's Tahirpur upazila on Thursday. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. Also read:Lightning strikes kill 6, injure 3 in four districts A group of farm workers was working on the paddy field when they were struck by lightning around 11am, said Abdul Latif Tarafdar, officer-in-charge of Tahidpur Police Station. While three of them died on the spot, the injured were admitted to a local hospital. Lightning strike in Bangladesh Lightning strike has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh, claiming over 200 lives every year. Also read: Lightning kills 2 in Sunamganj Haor According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. At least 216 people die every year on average in lightning strikes, more than by floods, cyclones and other calamities. More than 70 percent of the total lightning strikes occur between April and June, say experts.