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Nearly 0.1 million hectares of farmland have gone under water in the ongoing flood that has affected low-lying areas in 21 districts of Bangladesh.
The flood, caused by heavy rainfall and water rushing in from upstream India, has submerged standing Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, vegetables, chilli fields, fruit orchards, and jute in many areas.
At the same time, due to the active southwest monsoon, a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, and the ongoing heavy rain in coastal areas, water-logging has been reported in parts of Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Cumilla, and Noakhali.
According to the regional offices of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram, Barishal, and Khulna, almost 0.1 million hectares of farmland across 21 districts were submerged in the last four days.
Officials have warned that if the floodwater does not recede in the next three to four days, the damage to crops could become severe.
The most affected districts include Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur, Cumilla, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Khagrachhari, Pabna, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Narail, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, and Shariatpur.
In terms of crop damage, around 50,000 hectares of Aus paddy, 23,500 hectares of Aman seedbeds, and 24,000 hectares of vegetables, chilli, jute, and betel leaf have been submerged.
Cumilla is one of the worst-hit districts, where 11,590 hectares of farmland are flooded. The damaged crops include Aus, Aman, vegetables, chilli, and sugarcane.
In Feni, about 3,000 hectares of land with mature Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, vegetables, and chilli are submerged.
In Noakhali, 8,000 hectares of Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, vegetables, chilli, and watermelon have been affected by flooding.
Meanwhile, flood conditions have started to improve in Parshuram upazila of Feni district, but waterlogging remained in Fulgazi and Chhagalnaiya as of Friday morning.
Floodwater, which originated from broken embankments upstream in India, has moved from Parshuram and Fulgazi into Chhagalnaiya and several low-lying areas in Feni Sadar.
According to the Water Development Board in the district, 21 breaches in embankments along the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers have caused flooding in over 100 villages across Parshuram, Fulgazi, Chhagalnaiya, and parts of Sadar upazila since Monday.
Thousands of people remain waterlogged, many roads are still under water, and transportation is cut off. The situation has worsened due to power outages and mobile network failures.
While Parshuram is showing some improvement, new areas in Chhagalnaiya and Feni Sadar continue to be flooded.
On Friday, water levels were still flowing one to two feet above the Feni-Fulgazi and Feni-Chhagalnaiya regional roads.
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