United News of Bangladesh

Fertile farmlands of ‘Gaillar Haor’ in Shantiganj upazila of Sunamganj district has been facing severe degradation as an influential syndicate continues large-scale illegal extraction of topsoil, posing a serious threat to local agriculture and rural infrastructure. The upper fertile layer of cropland, commonly known as topsoil, in Alampur village under Purba Pagla Union, is being indiscriminately removed using excavators, according to local people. The soil is reportedly being used to fill private homesteads and roads, while the ongoing operation has disrupted both agricultural productivity and daily life. During a recent visit to the area, this UNB correspondent observed multiple excavators digging deep pits across vast stretches of cropland. Read more: Unchecked soil lifting threatens Gomti River, infrastructures in Cumilla The extraction continued day and night, with rows of heavy dump trucks transporting the soil to different locations. The constant movement of trucks has damaged newly built rural roads, intensifying public suffering. Local people alleged that the illegal activity is being carried out under the direct leadership of influential former local representatives Saidul Islam and Kalam Mia. Farmers affected by the soil removal expressed deep concern and said they feared retaliation if they protested openly. Several farmers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the removal of topsoil, the most fertile portion of farmland, has permanently destroyed soil productivity. They warned that deep excavation has also increased the risk of adjacent farmlands collapsing. If the haor is carved up like this, there will be no land left for cultivation in the future, said Jamaluddin, a farmer. They demanded immediate and strict intervention from the administration. Under the Soil and Sand Management Act, 2010, extracting soil from agricultural land for commercial or personal use is a punishable offence. Locals, however, alleged that the syndicate continues its activities by evading administrative oversight or using political influence. Beyond agricultural damage, the operation has also caused severe deterioration of rural roads. Read more: Overuse of chemical fertilisers threatens soil health in northern Bangladesh Heavy trucks carrying soil have led to road collapses, making daily movement increasingly difficult for villagers. When contacted, Fatema Tuz-Zohra, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Shantiganj upazila, said the administration is aware of the issue. “Cutting topsoil from cropland is completely illegal. We have received information about soil extraction in Alampur village. A mobile court will be conducted there soon,” she assured. Those who were involved in the act would not be spared and legal action will be taken, including the seizure of machinery used in the illegal activity, she said. Meanwhile, experts from civil society urged for exemplary punishment, including imprisonment and confiscation of excavators, to protect the haor’s fragile ecosystem. Read more: BIWTA dredging restores navigability of Sunamganj rivers; boosts trade, employment They also feared that if the government did not take immediate action, Shantiganj’s agricultural economy and ecological balance could suffer irreversible damage.

Conservation dredging by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has significantly improved navigability of key waterways in Tahirpur upazila, reviving trade, easing transportation and creating fresh employment opportunities in the region. As dredging has restored water flow in the Patlai, Baulai and Rakti rivers, cargo vessels carrying coal and stones are once again operating smoothly, particularly along the Takerghat–Mokshedpur route. The development has brought long-awaited relief to traders, workers and local residents dependent on river-based trade. For years, the three rivers would almost dry up during the dry season, crippling operations at the Barachhara, Charagaon and Bagli customs stations. Read more: Shipping Ministry forms committee over alleged BIWTA bribery Importers of coal and stone suffered heavy losses as goods transport stalled and thousands of workers were left without regular employment. To address the crisis, BIWTA has been carrying out conservation dredging over the past two to three years using cutter suction dredgers. As a result, navigability has improved markedly in the current fiscal year, allowing vessels to transport larger volumes of goods without disruption. In Takerghat area, the Patlai River, which once dried up completely during the dry season—forcing people and livestock to cross on foot—now supports the movement of both small and large vessels. Md Khasrul Alam, president of the Barachhara Coal Importers Group and former chairman of Sreepur Uttar Union Parishad, said the dredging had doubled business activities over the last two years. “If capital dredging is undertaken in the future, trade will increase manifold,” he said. Read more: Dawn upon Rangamati: Govt steps in to protect rivers and people BIWTA officials said dredged soil is being distributed free of cost for public welfare projects with due approval. The soil has been used to fill low-lying areas of government schools, colleges, mosques, madrasas, graveyards and rural roads across several unions, contributing to local development.

As the vast haor waters slowly recede, life in Sunamganj’s low-lying wetlands is once again defined by urgency, mud and relentless labour by farmers. Across the district, farmers have plunged into the Boro cultivation season, racing against a narrow planting window that will determine their livelihoods for the year ahead. From one upazila to another, the haor landscape has turned vibrant with activity. Knee-deep in muddy water, farmers and agricultural labourers work from dawn to dusk, transplanting paddy seedlings on freshly exposed land. Shantiganj, Tahirpur, Madhyanagar, Dharmapasha, Shalla and Jamalganj are among the upazilas where the seasonal rush is most visible. According to the District Agriculture Department, seedlings have already been planted on 1.53 lakh hectares of land in Sunamganj. Read more: Jujube cultivation brings new prosperity to Cumilla’s Shikarpur village With haor waters withdrawing gradually, farmers are making full use of every available day to ensure timely transplantation and a successful harvest. Boro cultivation in the haor region typically begins after floodwaters recede, following the preparation of seedbeds in November and December. This year, soil testing has been completed in advance, and required fertilisers, including urea, TSP, DAP, MOP and gypsum, have been applied as per recommendations. Farmers are cultivating a mix of high-yielding and hybrid rice varieties, including BRRI dhan-28, BRRI dhan-29, BRRI dhan-89 and BRRI dhan-92. If weather conditions remain favourable, rice ears are expected to emerge in April-May, marking the crucial phase when grains mature ahead of harvest. Yet the physical toll of the season is unmistakable. Despite the biting winter cold, labourers stand for hours in icy water, trampling mud to plant seedlings by hand. For many, agriculture is the only means of survival, leaving little room for rest. “I work from 8am till evening for a daily wage of Tk 600 and one meal,” said Ibrahim Mia, a farmer from Khushdar Haor in Lalpur village. “Even in severe winters, we have to trample mud in water. We are poor people and survive through hard labour.” Like many others, Ibrahim hopes that good yields and fair market prices will reward their effort. “If we get proper prices, farmers will be more motivated,” he said. Read more: Haor regions to see controlled pesticide use in upcoming Boro season Officials say the Boro season is not only vital for food production but also creates seasonal employment in the haor belt. Deputy Director of the Sunamganj District Agricultural Extension Department Mohammad Omar Faruk said Boro remains the district’s main cropping season. “Workers from different districts have come to Sunamganj to take part in the planting activities,” he said, adding, “They are earning between Tk 600 and Tk 800 per day, which has created temporary employment opportunities in the haor areas.” He said the Boro cultivation target for the current season has been set at 2,23,505 hectares, with planting already completed on about 1,53,000 hectares. As farmers push forward against time, cold and uncertainty, the receding haor waters signal both hope and hardship, a familiar rhythm in Sunamganj, where the success of the Boro season shapes food security and livelihoods for thousands. Read more: Kushtia farmers upset over canal blockage, fear permanent waterlogging

Anxious days are returning for farmers in the haor areas of Sunamganj as work on crop protection dams remains sluggish, even three weeks after the official deadline for starting construction passed. Although construction has begun in some haors, the overall pace has been slow, fuelling frustration among farmers who depend on the timely completion of embankments to protect their Boro crops from early floods. Many fear that continued delays could leave vast tracts of farmland vulnerable during the coming monsoon. According to the Water Development Board, several factors have hindered timely implementation. Delays in the recession of water from the haors and complications in forming Project Implementation Committee (PIC) have stalled work in multiple upazilas, including Tahirpur, Derai and Shalla. Fertiliser crunch threatens Kushtia’s onion boom despite high prices Officials also pointed out that administrative activities were disrupted earlier as officials remained busy with election-related duties. Despite these setbacks, officials said construction would gain momentum within a few days and that all projects are scheduled for completion by February 28. Mamun Hawlader, Executive Engineer of the Sunamganj Water Development Board, said that under the KABITA (Kajer Binimoye Taka) policy, a total of 705 projects have been approved for the construction of crop protection dams across 12 upazilas in the 2025–2026 fiscal year. An allocation of Tk 137 crore has been made to build approximately 500.5 kilometres of embankments. Although the construction work was formally inaugurated on December 15, progress has been limited. As of January 6, work had started on only about 400 projects, with overall progress standing at just 15 per cent. Bumper harvest, plunging prices; Chandpur’s potato market in crisis Officials said the remaining projects would begin within a week. A visit to several haor areas revealed that work has yet to begin on most approved projects, while some Project Implementation Committees are still waiting for official work orders. The slow pace has drawn criticism from the Haor Bachao Andolan. Leaders of the organisation recently held a press conference expressing concern that, despite the official start date, construction has not commenced in most upazilas. They also alleged irregularities in the formation of PICs, unnecessary projects and additional allocations, raising doubts over whether the work can be completed within the stipulated timeframe. Bijon Sen Roy, general secretary of the central committee of the Haor Bachao Andolon, said, “We are very worried about the dam work this time. The progress is very disappointing. If action is not taken now, it could spell bad news for the people of the haor.” In response, Executive Engineer Mamun Hawlader assured that monitoring has been intensified and that dam construction will be completed on schedule. According to the Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetlands Development, Bangladesh has a total of 373 haors as of 2026. These haors are spread across seven districts in the north-eastern and north-central regions, covering approximately 858,460 hectares. As haor waters recede, Sunnamganj farmers sow hope in every field Of them, 95 haors are located in Sunamganj district alone, spanning about 268,531 hectares. As the agricultural season advances, farmers across Sunamganj continue to watch the embankment work closely, hoping that construction will accelerate before rising waters put their livelihoods at risk.

A vast golden carpet has spread across the haor wetlands of Madhyanagar upazila in Sunamganj, as a bumper mustard harvest this season brings renewed hope and financial relief to local farmers. The low-lying fields, riverbanks and wetlands of Banshikunda Uttar and Dakshin, Chamardani and Madhyanagar Sadar unions are now awash with bright yellow mustard flowers, transforming the landscape into a striking spectacle that is also drawing curious visitors. Mustard, widely known as a low-cost and high-profit oilseed crop with a short growing cycle, has gained growing popularity among farmers in the haor region. According to the Madhyanagar upazila agriculture office, mustard was cultivated on around 550 hectares of land this season, with officials optimistic about meeting, and possibly exceeding production targets. Read more: Chuadanga farmers thrive as cauliflower yields hit new high For many farmers, the shift towards mustard has been driven by rising production costs and price uncertainty surrounding paddy and other staple crops. “We often suffer losses from rice cultivation due to high input costs and unstable market prices,” said one farmer. “Mustard needs less investment, grows quickly and sells well. It is safer for us.” As a result, mustard cultivation has expanded significantly in fallow lands and haor-adjacent areas this year, making productive use of land that often remains uncultivated after the monsoon. The agriculture office said sowing typically begins at the end of Kartik, with harvesting completed by mid-Poush, allowing farmers to earn returns early in the season. Even before harvesting the seeds, farmers generate additional income by selling mustard flowers and leaves, which are used locally to prepare dishes such as bora (fritters) and leafy vegetables. After harvesting, the dried stalks are sold as fuel, further adding to household earnings. Read more: Sirajganj’s mustard fields bloom into golden seas, promise bumper harvest Upazila Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Akmal Hossain said the outlook remains positive. “Like previous years, the mustard production target has been achieved. If there is no major pest or disease outbreak, farmers can expect a bumper harvest,” he said. He said timely distribution of fertilisers and seeds under government incentive programmes ensured smooth cultivation this season. Across Bangladesh, mustard cultivation has emerged as a profitable rabi-season crop, particularly in districts such as Magura and Narail. With the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) keeps on developing high-yielding mustard varieties to support the farmers and keep up the encouraging growth trend, farmers have responded equally with the adoption of improved seeds and modern techniques. Mustard farming is playing an increasingly vital role in Bangladesh’s agricultural economy with the country striving to reduce its dependence on imported edible oil, officials said. Read more: Naogaon farmers make a fortune on mustard and honey

Two people were killed as a motorbike crashed into a car on Sylhet-Sunamganj regional highway in front of a food warehouse in Shantiganj upazila of Sunamganj on Saturday. The deceased were identified as motorcyclists Md Jewel Mia, son of Wahid Ali of Saudergaon village in Doarabazar upazila and Md Shobdar Ali, son of late Abdur Razzak of Hasannagar Moynar Point in Sunamganj municipality. Two killed in separate road accidents in Feni Locals said the accident took place around 11:30 am when the motorbike heading towards Jagannathpur collided with the Sunamganj-bound private car, leaving Jewel Mia dead on spot. Shobdar Ali succumbed to his injuries on the way to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital, said Joykolosh Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Suman Kumar Chowdhury .

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in a drive seized huge amounts of contraband items including Indian sarees and cosmetics worth Tk 5.50 crore from  Harinapati village in Sadar upazila of Sunamganj district early Monday. Tipped off, a team of BGB-28 conducted the drive in the bordering area of the district and seized 4,286 pieces of Indian saris, 13 pieces of lehenga, 4,992 pieces of cosmetics, 20,120 pieces of chocolates from a tin-shed godown in the area, said Commanding officer of BGB-28, Lieutenant Colonel AKM Zakaria Kadir. The seized contraband items will be deposited to the Sunamganj customs.

With the advent of the monsoon, riverbank erosion along the Surma has intensified alarmingly, posing a grave threat to the Chatak-Andhariganj-Sunamganj road, a vital communication lifeline for thousands in the region. Local residents have voiced growing concerns that large sections of the road may collapse into the river at any time, severing a crucial transport route that links several communities. The road, already weakened by the devastating floods of 2022, had shown some signs of recovery after repair works commenced in late 2024 under the supervision of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).  But, a fresh erosion is now rapidly undoing those efforts. A recent visit by the UNB correspondent revealed that the erosion has reached an alarming stage near the mazar (shrine) adjacent to Mallikpur Government Primary School. Surma River to be dredged to save Sylhet city from flood: State Minister for Water Resources Over the past three to four days, the river has edged perilously close to the paved sections of the road. The situation has worsened with the partial collapse of the western approach to the Machukhali Bridge, heightening fears of a major accident if immediate protective interventions are not made. Locals have reported visible cracks in the newly repaired stretches of the road, with some parts already beginning to subside. “The road is at high risk of being washed away, which would leave the surrounding communities completely cut off,” said a resident of Mallikpur. People from Mallikpur and Machukhali have appealed to the authorities to act without delay. They are calling for strong, lasting measures to curb the erosion and protect the road from further degradation. When contacted, Md Rafiqul Islam, Upazila Engineer of Chhatak, said he has visited the erosion-affected areas and acknowledged the severity of the situation. Surma River flowing over danger level in Sunamganj “Necessary steps will be taken promptly to prevent further damage,” he assured. As the river continues to encroach, residents remain on edge, hoping that urgent action will save the road that connects their lives, livelihoods and essential services.

An irrigation crisis has emerged across hundreds of hectares of Boro farmland lying to the south of Jibdara Bazar, Shimulbak Union, in Sunamganj’s Shantiganj Upazila due to a lack of water. The farmlands are cracking due to water scarcity, and the drying up of water bodies in the Haor has caused severe distress for farming families, putting the crops at risk. Locals say the filling up of the water bodies in the Haor has caused the irrigation crisis. Farmers fear that if these water bodies are not dredged soon, the farmlands in the Haor will remain uncultivated in the future. According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office, the Suraiya Beel water body in Ukargaon, Shimulbak Union, has 13.30 acres, but it is devoid of water. On a visit Monday morning, it was observed that hundreds of hectares of Boro farmland were spread across the Haor south of Jibdara Bazar. Farmers had planted Boro rice across the vast Haor, but there is a severe irrigation crisis. The Suraiya Beel water body in the middle of the Haor has no water, making it difficult to identify land and water bodies. The land has become filled with silt, and the water body is now indistinguishable from the land. There is no water left, and the little that was available has been used up by farmers in the past few days. Unregulated fishing devastates Jamalganj haors endangering biodiversity Haor farmer Md Enamul Haque said, "I have a lot of land in this Haor, and I have spent a lot of money cultivating it. Now, there is a severe irrigation crisis. The filling up of the Suraiya Bill water body has caused this hardship." Farmer Sohel Mia from Jibdara village said, "If there is no rain this year, harvesting the planted crops will be uncertain. If this water body is dredged, we will be able to grow rice, otherwise, all the land in this Haor will remain uncultivated next year." The villagers, who have leased the water body, have also been affected by its filling. They believe that dredging the water body would benefit both the government and the farmers. The government’s revenue would increase, and farmers would be able to grow crops. They have urged the government to expedite the dredging process. Sajirul Islam, president of the Jibdara Adarsha Fishers' Cooperative Society, the lessee of the Suraiya Beel water body, said, "At the start of the Boro season, farmers use the water from the water body for cultivation. However, the water body has completely filled up. Every year, we dredge some parts of the water body with our own funds to create ponds, but it is not sufficient. The water body needs to be dredged on a larger scale. We too have been affected as the lessees of the water body." Inoperative water regulators in Sunamganj haors threaten Boro crops Ahsan Habib, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said, "I will inform the Upazila Water Management Committee, and also notify the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to address the irrigation crisis. To achieve the target, uninterrupted Boro cultivation must continue." Sukanto Saha, Shantiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Water Management Committee President, said, "The filling up of the water body has caused this problem. However, no one has submitted a written request to me regarding this matter." He added, "Every water body needs to be dredged. If the locals apply for the dredging of the water body, we will verify it and grant permission for the dredging or arrange for it through a project."

Crop protection dam work in Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj is progressing at a snail’s pace, leaving farmers worried over the protection of Boro paddy. Although one month has elapsed since the start of the work the members of the Project Implementation Committees (PICs) for 86 dams in seven haors ihave not received the first installment of funds yet. According to Dharmapasha upazila administration, seven haors—Chandra Sonar Thal, Joydhana, Sonamorol, Kailani, Joydhana (2), Gurma, and Rui Beel—fall under the jurisdiction of the Sunamganj Water Development Board. The authorities allocated an amount of Tk 19.15 crore for the 86 crop protection dam projects in these haors. The members of the PICs for these 86 projects are still waiting for the first installment of funds. According to the policy, the construction and repairs of the dams were supposed to begin on December 15 last with the work scheduled to be completed by February 28. The work was inaugurated on December 15 but due to delayed water drainage from the haors, work began in the first week of January. The funds for the dam work are supposed to be distributed in four installments through cheques. As per the guidelines, 25% of the allocation is meant to be given as an advance before the work begins. Despite the passage of over a month, the PICs have not received any funds yet. Several farmers from the haor areas expressed concern saying that due to delays in forming the PICs and other preparatory work the dam construction started late, and the work is progressing slowly, putting their Boro crops at risk. On a field visit on Monday last, the correspondent found that work of at least ten crop protection dams in Chandra Sonar Thal and Rui Beel haors was moving at a slow pace. Read: Ballooning number of crop protection dams in Sunamganj haor region raises concern Soil was piled up in some areas, and only five to seven workers were present at each site. Salah Uddin, president of the project implementation committee for the 33rd dam in Chandra Sonar Thal, said that their dam, with a length of 990 meters, has been allocated over Tk 23.33 lakh. "We began the work on time, but we were supposed to receive 25% of the allocated amount before starting the work, however we haven't received a single taka yet. We are facing significant challenges and delays in completing the work. I've heard that the delay is due to the absence of the UNO, but we urgently need the first installment to continue the work," he added. Jahangir Alam, an assistant engineer in charge of overseeing the dam work, said the first installment of the funds has already been deposited in the bank. However, the delay in disbursing funds has been hampering the progress of the work, he said. Acting UNO and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Aliduzzaman said that the previous UNO was transferred on December 31, and a new UNO has been appointed.. “We hope the issue will be resolved in a few days," he said. Mamun Howlader, executive engineer of the Water Development Board in the district, said that he spoke to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) about the matter. Read more: Parts of Chandpur town protection dam collapse DC Mohammad Ilias Mia assured that the PICs would receive their first installment of funds within two to three days, he said. Crop protection dams are built to protect crops from early floods and landslides. Haors are wetland ecosystems found in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh. Sunamganj district is famous for its numerous haors.