United News of Bangladesh

A shortage of funds has slowed embankment construction across Jagannathpur in Sunamganj, raising fears among farmers that unfinished flood defences could expose early Boro crops to flashfloods in the coming weeks. The government allocated Tk 6.13 crore for embankment construction across 12 haor and non-haor areas, including the expansive Noluar Haor, with work to be implemented through 37 Project Implementation Committees (PICs). The embankments are intended to protect early Boro cultivation, a vital source of livelihood for the region’s farming communities. Yet progress has faltered in many locations, largely due to financial constraints. Officials and PIC members estimate that between 60 and 70 percent of work has been completed in most projects. While earth-cutting has nearly finished in some areas, progress elsewhere remains uneven and, in some cases, unsatisfactory. Boro cultivation in Narail gains full momentum under sunny skies PIC members allege that much of the work was undertaken after receiving only the first instalment of funds, leaving them struggling to continue operations. They said they had taken loans, often at high interest rates, to keep construction moving, pushing many into debt. “We are trying our best to continue the work, but the lack of funds has created a serious financial crisis,” said a PIC representative, adding that repayment of loans depends on the release of the second instalment, which has yet to materialise. During a field visit on Thursday, earth-cutting under Project No 1 in the Kandargaon–Noagaon area of Noluar Haor, under Kolkolia Union, was found to be nearly complete. However, no work had been carried out in the inner section of Noagaon village, and parts of the embankment near the riverbank were uneven and sloped, making movement difficult. Project president Mostafizur Rahman Muhit and member secretary Miton Mia said roughly 70 percent of the work had been completed but described the current situation as distressing due to the lack of funds. After flood, Boro season unfolds in Sunamganj “We are continuing the work by borrowing money from different sources because the second instalment has not been released,” Muhit said. They said that the road section inside Noagaon village was not included in the original project, but they intended to carry out additional work there in the public interest. “If the authorities provide bills for the extra work, we will accept them. Otherwise, we will complete it on our own initiative,” Milton said. Elsewhere, local leaders who visited Project No 30 in Jagadishpur village under Kolkolia Union praised the quality of the work. Project president Muzaffar Ali said about 80 percent of construction had been completed, but progress was now being hampered by the funding shortfall. “We are struggling to continue the work due to the lack of funds,” he said. Md Shahidul Islam Bakul, president of the Jagannathpur upazila unit of Haor Bachao Andolon and chairman of Chilauraholdipur Union Parishad, said embankment construction had slowed not only because of soil shortages in the haor areas but also because PIC members had become indebted. “The embankment work must be completed as soon as possible to protect haor crops and ease farmers’ worries,” he said, urging the authorities to ensure that financial constraints do not halt progress. Contacted for comment, Sheikh Farid, Jagannathpur upazila officer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, said the process of releasing another 7.5 percent of funds as the second instalment was underway. “The bills will be paid to the PICs before the election,” he said. As farmers watch the embankments inch towards completion, concerns remain that any further delays could leave vast stretches of Boro fields vulnerable just as the risk of flash floods begins to rise, said an agriculture official.